In the Barmer accident, 11 people were burnt to death as a bus turned into fireball after colliding with a tanker. In the tragic mishap, as many as 32 people were left injured and were rushed to the hospital. Reportedly on November 10, a truck and a tanker collided on the Barmer-Jodhpur National Highway, Rajasthan.

Post-collision, both the vehicles erupted in fire. Several fire tenders were called post the accident which helped dousing the fire. After the accident, Prime Minister Modi offered his condolences and also announced ex-gratia. A Rs. 2 lakhs relief package was announced for the next of kin of the deceased. Rs. 50,000 was announced for those injured in the accident.

Background

Like most heavily populated states in India, Rajasthan witnesses its fair share of road accidents and deaths due to the same. According to research paper titled Road Accident Analysis in Rajasthan, the state witnessed a decrease in number of accidents on highways year-by-year from 2014 to 2018. In 2014, the state witnessed 6991 accidents with 3598 fatalities. This number gradually decreased to 6821 accidents and 3709 fatalities in 2015, 6576 accidents and 3737 fatalities in 2016, 6284 accidents and 3764 fatalities in 2017 and 6020 accidents and 3458 fatalities in 2018.

However, if we focus on overall accidents in the state, the NCRB report has stated that Rajasthan’s share in overall accidental deaths in India was 6.8%.


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The Facts of the Matter

In a terrible tragedy, a bus ferrying passengers collided with a tanker truck near Rajasthan’s Barmer district. The two vehicles collided on the Barmer-Jodhpur National Highway near Bhandiyawas village. The impact and intensity of the accident was such that both the vehicles were engulfed in flames within no time. The accident led to as many as 12 people dying while 32 people were left injured.

An NDTV report quoted the district collector of Barmer saying, “Twelve persons have died and 32 others were injured. Some of the injured were referred to Jodhpur for treatment and some were discharged.”


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Videos Show the Mayhem Caused by the Accident

Meanwhile, after the accident, several netizens flooded Twitter with small on-ground footages of the devastation after the accident. Several videos showed a bus engulfed in the flame and being doused. Other videos show the vehicles charred with the witnesses scattered and shocked.

In one video shared by Mommento News, a witness took the video of the tanker fallen on one side and engulfed in flame. Black smoke rose in the air and people around the vehicle were trying to take pictures and videos of the same. Meanwhile, a lady – possibly injured – was also seen in the video lying on one side of the road.


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Witnesses Share the Horror at Barmer Highway

It should come to no one’s surprise that the witnesses of the accident were shocked and horrified after the accident. A passenger named Shahrukh reported that the bus was filled with passengers, as reported by NDTV. One another survivor claimed that when the accident happened, he jumped out of the window to save his life.

CM Gehlot, PM Modi Issue Statements, Relief Package Announced

After the accident, Rajasthan Chief Minister took to Twitter to offer his condolences and to assure that best possible efforts would be made to help the injured. “In connection with the bus-truck accident in Barmer, after talking to the District Collector, Barmer on the phone, he has been directed regarding relief and rescue operations. Best treatment will be ensured to the injured,” CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

PM Narendra Modi also offered his condolences and announced the ex-gratia for the dead and the injured. “It is saddening that people have lost their lives due to a bus-tanker collision at the Barmer-Jodhpur Highway in Rajasthan. In this hour of grief, my condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured have a quick recovery,” PM Modi’s office tweeted.

In a follow-up tweet, PM Modi also wrote, “An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the accident at the Barmer-Jodhpur Highway in Rajasthan. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each.”