Jaipur, Jan 1: A major accident was averted on Tuesday in Jaipur when a gas leakage incident occurred at an oxygen plant on Vishwakarma Road in the city.

The incident happened in the evening when the valve of a tanker carrying 20 tonnes of oxygen gas broke, causing the gas to escape rapidly. The leaked oxygen spread over a 200-300 meter radius, significantly reducing visibility in the area.

Upon receiving the alert, teams from the Vishwakarma police station and the fire brigade promptly arrived at the scene. Station House Officer (SHO) Rajendra Sharma reported that the leakage was controlled by shutting off the plant’s main valve. Firefighters used water sprays to lower the gas concentration and stabilise the situation.

The gas leakage caused a sharp drop in visibility on the road, prompting police to manage traffic carefully and slow vehicle speeds to prevent accidents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported during the incident.

SHO Rajendra Sharma explained that the leak occurred due to the sudden breakage of the tanker’s valve. However, quick action by the police and fire brigade prevented a major accident. Despite the tense atmosphere among local residents during the incident, the administration’s swift response brought the situation under control.

In the aftermath, the police asked owners for regular equipment checks and adherence to safety protocols at the plant. Owners were also instructed to implement stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The situation has now returned to normal, and no injuries or fatalities were reported, said officials.

It may be noted that 20 people died and over 20 sustained injuries when a container lorry and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tanker collided on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on December 20, triggering an inferno due to which many people are still battling burns and injuries in hospitals.

As the accident had taken place in the wee hours, many of those caught in the inferno were bus passengers, some of whom were in deep sleep. Among the victims was a young woman travelling by a sleeper-coach bus. She opted for the road journey because a train reservation did not come through, and minutes before the accident called up her sister to inform her she was about to alight at her destination.

A young man who died had rushed to save his car parked on the roadside while he was taking a break at a nearby dhaba. He was on his way back home after shopping for his marriage in January. His two friends stayed away from the blaze and were saved. Retired IAS officer Karni Singh Rathore was among those burnt alive. Many others could be identified only by DNA testing.

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.

Jaipur, Dec 26: One more person who suffered critical burn injuries in the December 20 tanker fire incident in Jaipur succumbed during treatment at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, taking the death toll to 19.

Dr Rakesh Jain, a doctor at SMS Hospital, reported that 28-year-old Lalaram, who had sustained 60 per cent burns, was on a ventilator after sustaining injuries in the accident; however, he passed away at around 9.20 a.m.

“Currently, 20 severely injured patients are being treated in the hospital’s burn ward, with three of them on ventilators. Lalaram’s body has been placed in the hospital mortuary and will be handed over to his family following a post-mortem examination by a medical board,” said Dr Jain.

The fatalities from the Jaipur-Ajmer highway accident have been rising. On Wednesday, three patients succumbed to their injuries, following two deaths on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, five patients were discharged — three on December 23 and two on December 24.

On December 25, 22-year-old Vijeta, a resident of Pratapgarh, passed away at 4 a.m., followed by 36-year-old Vijendra from Bhuribaraj, Jaipur, who died at 9.30 a.m. Later, at around 1 p.m., 35-year-old Banshilal succumbed to his injuries. Vijeta and Vijendra had each suffered 70 per cent burns.

On December 24, two other victims lost their lives. They were identified as Naresh Babu from Etah, Uttar Pradesh, and Yusuf from Nuh, Haryana.

The tragic accident occurred near DPS Bhankrota on Ajmer Road in Jaipur on December 20 resulting in devastating loss of life. Four people were burned alive at the scene, while eight others succumbed to their injuries the same day during treatment at Sawai Man Singh Hospital.

Another person passed away later at Jaipuria Hospital. The accident happened when a truck collided with an LPG tanker, and the leaking gas caught fire which spread across the highway.

Jaiveer Singh, the tanker driver, informed the police that he was alone in the vehicle at the time of the incident. “Without wasting time, I started running,” he said. “The gas from the tanker spread on the road like a ball of fire. By the time I reached the ring road, I called the truck owner, Anil Kumar, and informed him about the incident. After that, I switched off my mobile.”

Further investigations are under progress in the incident.