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Rajasthan has been gripped by a string of devastating accidents over the past month, with three major tragedies claiming more than 45 lives and leaving several others critically injured. From a deadly bus fire in Jaisalmer to a pilgrims’ crash in Phalodi and a horrific dumper truck collision in Jaipur, the state is once again confronting the grim consequences of poor road safety enforcement, reckless driving, and infrastructural lapses.

The latest in this tragic sequence occurred in Jaipur’s Harmada area on Monday afternoon, where a speeding dumper truck turned a busy stretch near Loha Mandi into a scene of carnage. According to officials, the empty dumper, traveling at dangerously high speed, lost control and ploughed through multiple vehicles across nearly 300 metres, crushing cars, motorcycles, and a small goods carrier in its path.

“Twelve people died in the accident and as many have been injured,” confirmed Jaipur district collector Jitendra Soni, though officials later said the toll had risen to thirteen. Many of the injured were rushed to the trauma centre at SMS Hospital, where several remain in critical condition. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror, with mangled vehicles scattered across the road and bystanders scrambling to pull victims from the wreckage before police and rescue teams arrived.

The police quickly cordoned off the area and began clearing the debris to restore traffic movement. Initial reports suggest that brake failure or driver negligence may have caused the accident, though a detailed investigation is underway.

Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it “extremely tragic and heart-wrenching.” In a post on X, Sharma wrote, “The road accident that occurred in the Lohamandi area of Harmada in Jaipur, resulting in loss of life, is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. The concerned authorities have been directed to ensure proper treatment for the injured. We pray to God to grant a place to the departed souls in His eternal abode and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to endure this devastating blow.”

The Jaipur collision came barely a day after another major tragedy struck the state—this time in Phalodi, Jodhpur district—where a mini-bus carrying pilgrims crashed into a stationary trailer truck on the Bharat Mala Highway. The impact killed at least 15 people, including 10 women and four children, while two others were grievously injured.

Police officials said the group of 18 pilgrims from Jodhpur’s Soorsagar area was returning from Kolayat, a holy site in Bikaner, when the driver of their bus, reportedly speeding, tried to overtake another vehicle. In doing so, he rammed directly into a parked trailer truck on the roadside. The force of the impact crushed the front portion of the bus, killing most passengers instantly.

“Fifteen people died on the spot, while two were shifted to Jodhpur in critical condition,” said Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash Paswan.

The accident drew widespread grief from across the country. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi both expressed condolences. The Prime Minister announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each to the families of those killed and ₹50,000 to the injured. Chief Minister Sharma also expressed sorrow and directed local officials to ensure immediate medical care and compensation.

Even before the Jaipur and Phalodi incidents, Rajasthan was mourning a tragedy of another scale. Just weeks earlier, 26 passengers were burnt alive when a sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway. The horrific blaze was reportedly triggered by a short circuit in the air conditioning unit, which rapidly engulfed the vehicle. The tragedy was compounded by a mechanical failure—an automatic locking system that jammed the bus doors, trapping passengers inside.

“Most of the bodies were found in the aisle, indicating that people tried to escape but couldn’t because the door was stuck,” said Kailash Dan, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jaisalmer.

Witnesses said the fire spread so fast that the driver barely managed to stop the bus before it was consumed in flames. Locals and Army personnel from a nearby camp rushed to the scene, smashing windows to pull out survivors. However, most of those trapped inside stood no chance.

A post-incident investigation found that the bus had been illegally modified and lacked basic safety features such as an emergency exit or window hammers. This was a blatant violation of state transport norms, prompting the Rajasthan Transport Department to launch a statewide inspection drive targeting buses with unauthorized modifications or permit violations.

In the aftermath, public anger mounted as families of victims accused authorities of negligence and delays in identifying the charred bodies through DNA testing. Many alleged that administrative inefficiency compounded their grief. “The whole system wakes up for criminals even at midnight, but no one is here for the common man,” said a distraught relative in Jodhpur.

Rajasthan’s health minister, Gajendra Singh Khimsar, acknowledged the failure in safety protocols and emergency preparedness. “There was only one door, which got jammed. Most passengers could not escape. Some were burnt beyond recognition,” he admitted.

These back-to-back accidents have triggered widespread debate over the deteriorating condition of Rajasthan’s road infrastructure and the lax enforcement of vehicle safety and traffic rules. Experts say the state’s highways, though vital trade corridors, have become increasingly dangerous due to reckless driving, over-speeding, and poor maintenance.

The National Crime Records Bureau’s data from previous years has consistently placed Rajasthan among the states with the highest number of fatal road accidents. Despite repeated promises of stricter enforcement and improved infrastructure, road safety initiatives have remained limited to short-term drives that lose momentum quickly.

In response to the recent tragedies, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has announced a comprehensive review of traffic regulations, particularly concerning heavy vehicles and passenger buses. “The government stands with the victims in this hour of grief,” he said, adding that steps would be taken to strengthen highway patrols, ensure regular vehicle fitness checks, and introduce stricter penalties for over-speeding and illegal modifications.

Transport officials have also been directed to audit all private and public buses for compliance with safety standards, including emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and first-aid equipment. The state police are expected to increase surveillance on high-risk stretches through speed cameras and random inspections.

However, critics argue that without systemic reforms—such as better driver training, emergency response systems, and accountability mechanisms—such announcements risk becoming symbolic. Civil society groups have called for a dedicated “Road Safety Authority” in the state, arguing that piecemeal measures will not address deep-rooted issues like corruption in vehicle fitness certification and poor highway design.

As Rajasthan mourns its dead from Jaisalmer, Phalodi, and Jaipur, the recurring pattern of negligence and fatal accidents underscores an urgent need for sustained action. For now, the victims’ families are left grappling with unbearable loss, and the state stands at a crossroads—whether to let the tragedies fade into statistics or to finally act decisively to make its roads safer for all.