Jaipur: A massive fire accident took place on the Jaipur—Ajmer Highway when a tanker filled with LPG gas exploded on Friday morning as a truck hit the gas tanker. The explosion reached a sleeper bus coming from Udaipur to Jaipur and claimed eight lives, while 35 people suffered burn injuries. The number of deaths is likely to increase as some of the injured are reported to be critical. 

As per the officials, the tanker-filled LPG was coming from Ajmer to Jaipur. At around 5.44 in the morning, while taking a U-turn, a truck coming from Jaipur collided with the tanker and within no time, the entire area became a ball of fire. The fire engulfed over 30 vehicles and thick black smoke filled the sky.

The sleeper bus running behind the tanker had 34 passengers on board and as per information 20 of them suffered burn injuries. The bus left Udaipur at 9 pm on Thursday night. At that time, there were 35 passengers in the bus. A passenger had deboarded at Ajmer. The bus was to reach Jaipur at around 6.30 am, but met with the accident at 5.45 am. 

There is a crude oil pipeline and two petrol pumps near the accident site, but all are safe. 

Dr. Sushil Bhati, Superintendent of SMS Hospital of Jaipur said that there 42 persons have been admitted in hospital while eight have been died. Out of these 4 were brought dead.  Among the admitted patients, there are 10 to 12 patients who have suffered more than 60% burns. 6 patients are currently on ventilator.

How Did The Accident Happen?

The tanker filled with LPG was coming from Ajmer to Jaipur. The tanker was taking a U-turn in front of DPS school in Bhankrota. The truck coming from Jaipur hit the nozzle of the gas tanker. About 18 tons of gas spread into the air from the nozzle, and an area of ​​200 meters became a gas chamber. A few seconds later, there was a massive explosion in the tanker and fire spread to the nearby vehicles.

The gas spreading rapidly in the air made the accident horrifying. People living nearby told many people were trying to take off their burning clothes. Mohan Lal, a family member of one of the injured,  said that many people became unconscious due to the gas. The fire was so severe that we turned away. What happened on the spot was not known. Hundreds of birds are lying burnt within a radius of about 400 meters from the accident site. 

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma tweets, “I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news of casualties of citizens in the gas tanker fire incident on Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. As soon as the information about the incident was received, I went to SMS Hospital and directed the doctors to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured.  Rescue work by the administration is continuing. The local administration and emergency services are working with full readiness. I pray to God to grant the departed souls a place in his supreme abode, give the bereaved families strength to bear this immense loss and provide speedy recovery to the injured.”

Mumbai: A fire broke out late Tuesday night at the Silver Cinema Building on Khambatta Street, Ninth Grant Road East, Mumbai. The incident was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 11:15 pm, and an update was issued by 11:50 pm. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported during the incident.

Details Of The Incident

The fire was confined to the second and third floors of the three-story structure, a closed cinema theatre building. It primarily affected electric wiring, installations, tarpaulin sheets and other electrical materials within the premises. Visuals of the blaze have surfaced on the internet showing the structure engulfed in huge flames.

Fire Controlled In Short Time

Multiple agencies, including the MFB, Police, BEST and municipal ward staff, were swiftly mobilised to handle the situation. The MFB efficiently brought the fire under control and extinguished it by 11:20 pm, just five minutes after it was reported.

Cause Of Fire Yet To Be Ascertained

The prompt response by emergency services ensured that the fire was contained before it could escalate, minimizing potential damage to the structure and nearby areas. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities are expected to conduct further inquiries to ascertain the details.

MFB To Launch Major Recruitment Drive

Meanwhile, facing a critical shortfall of 550 firemen, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) is set to launch a major recruitment drive in January 2025. To ensure transparency and avoid controversies like those that marred last year’s hiring process, the MFB is considering engaging an external agency to oversee the recruitment.

The shortage of firemen has been a persistent issue for the MFB over the past three years. In January 2024, the brigade initiated a recruitment drive to fill 910 vacancies. Candidates who met the eligibility criteria participated in rigorous ground tests held in Dahisar, which included demanding physical tasks such as pull-ups, an 800-meter run in under three minutes, rope climbing, and a 19-foot jump. The final merit list was published in May 2024.

However, the process faced allegations of irregularities after disqualified candidates accused the MFB of misconduct, sparking accusations of a recruitment scam. Additionally, female candidates staged protests demanding an inquiry into the selection process. In light of these issues, the MFB is now prioritizing transparency in future hiring efforts.

Meanwhile, the 750 candidates selected during last year’s drive are undergoing a six-month training program and are expected to commence duties in April 2024.

Tokyo, January 1: Tsunami waves reportedly hit coastal areas of central Japan after a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.5 shook the country on Monday, January 1. Several videos surfaced on social media showing tsunami waves hitting Niigata and Ishikawa prefectures of Japan. At least 21 earthquakes above 4.0 magnitude struck Japan after which the country issued tsunami warning.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, waves as high as 1.2 meters (four feet) slammed Wajima port in Ishikawa prefecture at 4:21 pm, local time. Waves of 80 cm reached Toyama Prefecture around 4:35 pm and waves of 40 meters also reached Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, at 4:36 pm, local time. It also reached Niigata’s Sado Island at 4:10 pm, local time.

Tsunami waves hit parts of Japan

One of the videos showed waves breaking over the seawall in Ishikawa prefecture. Another video showed a powerful wave hitting a car in Niigata prefecture.

Power outages hit Japan

The powerful earthquake disrupted power supply in parts of Japan. According to reports, hundreds of residents were left without electricity. As part of preventive measures, the authorities asked people to evacuate from coastal areas of Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama and Yamagata prefectures and move to safer locations. Traffic authorities closed major highways near epicentre of the Japan earthquake.

Tsunami warnings were also issued for Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui and Hyogo prefectures, also along the Japan Sea Coast. Meanwhile, Russia also declared tsunami threat for parts of Sakhalin’s western coast and urges residents to evacuate to higher ground after the Japan earthquake.