In Rajasthan, the death toll has risen to 11 in the gas tanker fire accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway. Twenty-nine people have been injured in the incident which took place at around 6 this morning when a gas tanker collided with a truck near the ring road on Ajmer Highway, triggering a massive fire engulfing several vehicles nearby.

The incident left a devastating trail of destruction as a total of 40 vehicles were destroyed including 29 trucks and 2 sleeper buses. Five people died on the spot due to burn injuries, while six others are reported to have died during treatment. Our correspondent reports that the injured are being treated at SMS Hospital. Superintendent of the SMS Hospital, Sushil Bhati told Akashvani that injured people are being treated in the hospital and out of them 14 are critical.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma immediately reached the hospital to check the well-being of the injured. He also visited the accident spot and took stock of the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him and offered all possible support from the Centre.

Jaipur Police have issued helpline numbers to assist those affected by the accident which include 9166347551, 8764868431 and 7300363636. A high-level committee will investigate the incident. The state government has announced a compensation of 5 lakh rupees to the next of kin of each deceased and 1 lakh rupees to the injured.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi have expressed distress to those who have lost their kin in the accident. The President called the incident very painful. She prayed for departed souls and for the speedy recovery of the injured people.

The Prime Minister said he was pained by the news. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. In a social media post, the Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given 50 thousand rupees.