Jaipur, Dec 28: Another victim of the Jaipur LPG tanker blast and fire succumbed to his burn injuries on Saturday, taking the death toll to 20 in the devastating accident that occurred around eight days ago.

Eight more victims remain in critical condition, battling severe burn injuries.

According to officials, Salim, a resident of Ajmer, passed away during treatment at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Following a postmortem conducted by the medical board, his body will be handed over to his family.

The tragic accident occurred on December 20 along the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, leaving 27 individuals with burns covering up to 80 per cent of their bodies.

Many sustained burns ranging from 50 per cent to 55 per cent, including Salim, who was accompanied by his brother during his hospital stay.

His brother, who had remained hopeful for his recovery after eight days of treatment, received the heartbreaking news of Salim’s death on Saturday morning.

Dr. Rakesh Jain, a burn specialist at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital (SMSH), stated that the medical team has been working tirelessly to treat the injured and improve recovery outcomes.

He emphasised that every possible effort is being made to provide best care for the patients.

“Our team has been busy treating the injured patients and making every possible effort to increase the recovery rate of patients. The team of doctors is trying to provide the best possible treatment,” said Jain.

Meanwhile, the burn victims, admitted to the burn unit of the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, have sustained injuries covering nearly 50 per cent of their bodies.

The accident claimed the lives of four individuals on the spot, while eight others died during treatment at SMS Hospital on the same day and one death occurred at Jaipuria Hospital.

The blaze was so intense that five victims had to be identified through DNA analysis.

Among them was former IAS officer Karni Singh, whose identity was confirmed through DNA samples provided by his daughter.

Fifteen injured individuals have since been discharged from the hospital, but doctors warn that the deep burns have caused significant damage to healthy tissues, with long-term effects on the liver and kidneys for several victims.

In response to the accident, the Central Transport Ministry removed NHAI regional officer Dinesh Chaturvedi on Friday, December 27, transferring him to Delhi. Abdul Basil has been appointed as his replacement.

Meanwhile, the concerned authorities, including NHAI, police, and other departments, continue to shift blame over the causes of the incident.

New Delhi, Dec 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will kickstart its poll campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing his first Parivartan Rally on December 29 in Rohini.

As per a top BJP source, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his first Parivartan Rally in Delhi and blow the bugle for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election due in February 2025.”

The source also said that another rally by the Prime Minister is scheduled to be held on January 3, 2025.

PM Modi likely to announce something big for Delhi in the rally. His other big rally is slated on January 3, 2025″, the source added.

On December 29, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for a new Metro line in Rithala and address a public meeting in Japanese Park, Rohini, BJP sources said.

On January 3, he will inaugurate several projects in Northeast Delhi, the Lok Sabha constituency of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, including the inauguration of the New Delhi-Saharanpur highway, and address a public meeting after the official programme, they said.

Special focus is on Najafgarh and South Delhi regions and with the PM’s meeting the party will reach out to voters, they said.

BJP MPs Kamlajeet Sehrawat, Yogendra Chandolia and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri have been made the in-charges for Sunday’s (December 29) programme.

Although the Election Commission of India has not yet announced the dates for the elections of the 70-member Delhi Assembly. However, the elections are likely to be held in February next year.

The term of the current Assembly in Delhi ends on February 23, 2025.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, seeks to retain power in Delhi for a third consecutive term following their electoral successes in 2015 and 2020.

The party won 67 seats in 2015 and 63 in 2020 in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

On December 24, the BJP held a brainstorming session with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the BJP headquarters extension office in Delhi.

The leaders discussed better coordination between the BJP and RSS in the election.

According to a top source in the BJP, “A key meeting was held between the BJP and RSS regarding the Delhi Assembly elections at the BJP headquarters in Delhi today. Arun Kumar, who is overseeing the coordination of the BJP on behalf of the Sangh, reviewed the Delhi elections with BJP leaders.”

Kolkata, Dec 27: A report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August this year, which surfaced earlier this week, has clearly stated that the confidentiality factor of the post-mortem process of the body of the victim was totally compromised and standard protocols were not followed during that process.

“Upon perusal of the videography of the PM Examination, it has been observed that there was presence of many persons inside the autopsy hall and few of them were taking photographs and videos on their personal mobiles which is against the standard and accepted protocol and practice for maintaining the confidentiality of the case and the dignity of the deceased,” the seventh point mention in the CSFL report read.

The CSFL report has maintained that the injury report of the deceased was basically prepared for pronunciation of death (i.e. brought dead) since it does not mention any detailed examination findings pertaining to injuries.

“After preparation of the Injury Certificate the body was sent for Postmortem examination. Perusal of the Magistrate inquest report shows that most of the findings were consistent with the PM report,” the CSFL report read.

The CFSL has suggested further research to be exactly sure whether the crime of rape and murder was accomplished by one or there were partners in the crime.

As per the contents of the report, while the possibility of involvement of just one accused cannot be ruled out, further research based on different past scientific reports by experts in similar cases can lead to the final conclusion on whether more than one person was involved in the crime.

Till now the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed just one charge sheet in the case where civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been identified as “sole prime accused” in the crime of rape and murder.

On the morning of August 9 this year, the body of the victim was spotted at the seminar hall within the hospital premises of R.G. Kar. Accordingly, first the Kolkata Police and subsequently the CBI carried out the investigation considering the seminar hall as the “scene of crime”.

However, the report of the CFSL, which was submitted to the CBI clearly stated that there was no evident sign of a scuffle within the seminar room.

At the same time, the CFSL report has clearly stated that most of the wounds that were traced on the body of the victim was the result of her attempts to resist the rape.