2 burnt alive after car catches fire from overturned chemical tanker on Delhi‑Jaipur highway

Two businessmen died and two others were seriously injured when their car caught fire after coming in contact with a burning chemical tanker on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway near Banipur Chowk, Bawal, on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Sanjeev of Delhi and Vineesh alias Anshu of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The injured — Sumit of Delhi and Rahul of Ghaziabad — have been admitted to a hospital in Delhi. Although no FIR had been lodged till the time of filing the news report, a police investigation is underway.

The incident occurred when a chemical-laden tanker overturned on the highway and exploded, causing a massive fire. The four victims, who were en route to Khatu Shyam temple in Rajasthan, were travelling in a car that passed by the burning tanker and caught fire.

Sanjeev and Anshu reportedly could not escape and were burnt alive. Sumit and Rahul managed to get out of the vehicle but sustained serious burn injuries. Emergency responders — including the fire brigade and police — arrived at the scene and rushed the injured to a nearby hospital, from there they were transferred to a hospital in Delhi.

Inspector Shiv Darshan, SHO of Kasola Police Station, told The Tribune that the bodies of Sanjeev and Anshu were handed over to their families after the post-mortem. Both men were running businesses in their respective hometowns.

“The tanker driver managed to flee the scene after the incident. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend him in order to determine the exact cause of the mishap, as well as to gather information about the origin and destination of the chemical being transported,” the SHO added.