#BreakingNews: Two Killed, 12 Injured as Bus Carrying Labourers Electrocuted, Catches Fire in Jaipur
Labourers electrocuted as vehicle hits live wire.
A horrific accident unfolded in Jaipur's Manoharpur area on Tuesday morning when a private bus, ferrying labourers from Uttar Pradesh to a brick kiln in Todi village, collided with a dangling 11,000-volt high-tension wire, sparking a deadly blaze that claimed two lives and left over a dozen others with severe burn injuries. Superintendent of Police (Rural), Jaipur, Rashi Dogra Dudi confirmed the tragedy, noting the vehicle was navigating a narrow, unpaved "kaccha" road when the top of the bus snagged the live electricity line, unleashing a surge that ignited the interior and trapped passengers in a fiery nightmare.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as screams echoed amid thick black smoke billowing from the engulfed vehicle. The fire spread rapidly, charring the bus's roof and seats, while the electrical current coursed through the metal frame, electrocuting victims instantly. Local villagers and quick-thinking bystanders rushed to aid, using wet cloths and sand to douse the flames before fire tenders arrived from nearby Shahpura. Video footage circulating on social media captured the gut-wrenching moments: labourers leaping from windows, some with clothes aflame, as the bus became a towering inferno on the outskirts of the Jaipur-Delhi highway.
The victims, mostly daily-wage workers enduring grueling shifts at the kiln, were among 25-30 on board. The two fatalities—yet to be identified—succumbed to electrocution before flames consumed their bodies, while 12 survivors suffered burns ranging from 20-60% of their skin. Five critically injured individuals were airlifted to Jaipur's SMS Hospital for specialized burn care, with others treated at Shahpura Sub-District Hospital. Doctors reported challenges in stabilizing the patients due to extensive smoke inhalation and third-degree burns, urging plasma donations to bolster recovery efforts.
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In the aftermath, Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni and senior police officials cordoned off the site, launching a probe into the incident's root causes—primarily the unchecked sagging of overhead power lines in rural stretches. Congress leader Ashok Gehlot decried the "recurring road mishaps" in Rajasthan, questioning the state government's lax safety protocols for labourers and demanding immediate compensation for the affected families. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma echoed the sorrow, vowing "swift relief" and directing authorities to prioritize medical aid while investigating the electricity department's role.
This tragedy spotlights broader perils faced by migrant workers traversing hazardous routes daily, from overloaded vehicles to neglected infrastructure. As investigations deepen, calls grow for mandatory safety audits on rural power lines and stricter enforcement of transport regulations to avert future infernos on Rajasthan's unforgiving roads.
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