Jaipur, January 19, 2026: A major road accident involving a chemical-laden tanker and a trailer sparked a massive fire on the Jaipur–Delhi National Highway (NH-48) on Sunday evening, causing significant disruption and panic among commuters and nearby villagers.
According to police, the incident occurred near Paota/Pawta in the Kotputli–Behror district at around 8:30 pm, when the tanker, carrying hazardous chemicals, lost control while heading towards New Delhi. The vehicle crossed the median and collided head-on with an oncoming trailer, resulting in a violent crash that ignited the tanker’s contents.
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of black smoke visible for over a kilometre along the highway. The chemical spill further intensified the blaze, forcing authorities to halt traffic in both directions as a safety precaution.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
Local residents were among the first to rush to the scene after hearing the crash. According to Kotputli-Behror Superintendent of Police Devendra Kumar Bishnoi, the drivers and helpers of both vehicles managed to escape before the fire spread, and no fatalities have been confirmed so far.
Multiple fire tenders from Pawta, Kotputli, Shahpura, and surrounding areas were deployed, and firefighters battled the inferno for several hours before bringing it under control. Paramedics and ambulances were placed on alert, and nearby hospitals were informed to prepare for possible casualties.
Officials, including the District Collector and SP, visited the site to supervise relief work and traffic management. Reinforcements from neighbouring police stations also joined efforts to restore normalcy.
Traffic and Safety Situation
NH-48 was completely blocked immediately after the collision, causing long queues of stranded vehicles. For roughly 20 minutes, cops diverted traffic and later managed to clear one lane for slow movement once the fire was suppressed.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, and a detailed assessment of environmental and road damage is underway.