TL;DR : On October 7, 2025, a chemical tanker crashed into a parked LPG truck near Dudu, Rajasthan. This caused over 300 gas cylinders to explode over two hours. One person died, traffic was shut for hours, and emergency services spent hours putting out the fire.
🔥 What Happened
- Around 10 PM IST on October 7, 2025, a chemical tanker carrying transformer oil collided with a parked LPG truck loaded with 330-350 gas cylinders near Mokhampura in Dudu on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway (NH-48).
- The tanker driver, Ramraj Meena (36), died after being trapped in the burning vehicle. He swerved to avoid an RTO (Regional Transport Office) vehicle, lost control, and hit the LPG truck from behind.
- The crash triggered massive explosions, with up to 200+ cylinders exploding over two hours.
- At least seven vehicles were destroyed. The fire did not reach the tanker’s chemical load, preventing a worse disaster.
“All the 350 cylinders in my truck burst in succession, scattering debris and metal shells up to 500 meters away into nearby fields,” - Truck driver Shahrukh
🚨 Emergency Response
- 15 fire tenders from Dudu, Bagru, and nearby areas worked for over 3 hours to control the fire by 3 AM IST.
- Traffic was halted for 5-6 hours, and the highway reopened around 5 AM on October 8.
- One passerby was injured and admitted to SMS Hospital; no other casualties were reported.
- Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa and senior police officials visited the site for inspection.
📍 Location and Impact
- The blasts were heard up to 10 km away, with flames visible from several kilometers.
- Debris was scattered up to 500 meters, causing panic in surrounding areas.
- Eyewitnesses initially mistook the explosions for an attack or fireworks due to their intensity.
⚖️ Investigation and Legal Action
- An FIR for negligent driving was filed against the tanker driver.
- Police are searching for a second person believed to have been in the tanker.
- Officials confirmed the accident happened while trying to avoid an RTO check, raising concerns over roadside inspection practices at night.
🧭 Context and Concerns
- A similar incident in December 2024 on the same highway near Bhankrota killed 19 people after an LPG tanker collision.
- The October 7 crash has renewed calls for:
- Stricter regulations for transporting hazardous materials
- Improved highway lighting and signage
- Reevaluation of nighttime RTO vehicle checks
- NH-48 is a major trade route, and incidents like this disrupt economic activity and raise serious public safety questions.
🕒 Key Timeline
Date/Time | Event |
Oct 7, ~10 PM IST | Tanker crashes into LPG truck near Dudu, Rajasthan |
Oct 7, 10:30 PM-1 AM | Cylinders explode; fire spreads to nearby vehicles |
Oct 7, ~11 PM-3 AM | Firefighters extinguish fire using 15+ tenders |
Oct 8, ~5 AM IST | Traffic resumes; debris cleared |