JALORE— A horrific accident on National Highway-48 claimed one life this afternoon after a fuel tanker belonging to Bharat Petroleum overturned and exploded into a massive fireball. The incident occurred near the Sinwara overbridge on the Jaisalmer–Jamnagar highway stretch in Rajasthan’s Jalore district.
The tanker, which was traveling from Barmer to Sanchore, reportedly lost balance and flipped over. The impact caused the highly inflammable fuel to spill across the asphalt, igniting an immediate and intense inferno that could be seen from kilometers away.
Casualties and Escape
Tragedy struck as the fire engulfed the vehicle’s cabin within seconds:
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Fatality: One occupant of the tanker was unable to escape and was charred to death inside the vehicle.
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Survivor: A second person, identified as 26-year-old Narsiram, managed to leap from the vehicle just as the flames erupted. He sustained burn injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Emergency Response and Traffic Chaos
The intensity of the blaze caused the fire to spread several meters across the highway, forcing authorities to halt traffic on the busy corridor.
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Firefighting Efforts: Fire brigade teams from Sanchore were dispatched to the scene. It took several hours of coordinated effort to bring the chemical-fueled flames under control and prevent them from spreading to nearby vegetation.
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Police Action: Local police and administrative officials cordoned off the area. While one side of the carriageway remained closed for forensic inspection and debris removal, traffic was diverted to prevent a total deadlock on the NH-48.
Investigation Underway
Preliminary reports from the Chittalwana police station suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating the stretch near the overbridge. Authorities are now investigating whether a mechanical failure or a sudden maneuver led to the fatal overturn. The tanker, bearing a Gujarat registration number, remains a charred shell as forensic teams work to identify the deceased.
