12 dead, several injured as drunk driver rams dump truck into traffic in Jaipur

Jaipur: Twelve people died and more than ten others were injured after a speeding dump truck, allegedly driven under the influence, lost control in the Harmara area of Jaipur on Monday.

The accident occurred around 1 pm near Loha Mandi, VKI (Vishwakarma Industrial Area), as the vehicle was heading towards the Loha Mandi petrol pump from Road Number 14 to reach the highway.

According to eye-witnesses, the vehicle was moving at a speed of over 100 km/hour when it lost control, crushing 17 vehicles over a stretch of nearly 300 meters. The vehicle struck cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians in succession.

Witnesses report that the impact was devastating, with victims mutilated beyond recognition and vehicles crushed into heaps of metal. 

The driver was caught by locals at the scene and handed over to the police. Preliminary reports suggest he was intoxicated at the time of the crash and the police have detained him for interrogation.

Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal and Additional Commissioner Rahul Prakash rushed to the spot along with senior traffic officials.

Rescue operations continued for hours as cranes and ambulances were deployed to clear the wreckage.

Those seriously injured were shifted to the SMS Hospital Trauma Centre, where emergency protocols were activated to handle the mass casualties. 

CCTV footage of the incident shows the dump truck barrelling down the road, uncontrollably crushing everything in its path. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident.
(With IANS inputs)