Rajasthan Tragedy: 13 Killed in Bikaner Cylinder Blast and Bundi Tractor-Trolley Accident

Jaipur, May 8, 2025 : In a tragic 24-hour span, Rajasthan witnessed two deadly incidents that claimed the lives of 13 people, leaving dozens injured and causing extensive damage.

In Bikaner, a massive cylinder blast rocked a bustling jewellery market on Wednesday. According to officials, three people died on the spot, while five more bodies were pulled from the debris on Thursday, raising the death toll to eight. The force of the explosion was so intense that two basement floors collapsed, burying multiple shops and valuables beneath the rubble.

“It felt like an airstrike,” said one shopkeeper. “The explosion destroyed shops and buried gold worth lakhs of rupees.” Rescue operations continued into Thursday as teams searched for survivors and cleared the debris.

Meanwhile, on Thursday in Bundi district, a tractor-trolley carrying wedding guests (baraatis) overturned on State Highway 27 while trying to avoid a motorcycle. The accident resulted in the death of five people, including a child and four women, and left over 25 others seriously injured.

Bundi District Collector Akshay Godara confirmed that the trolley lost control and overturned during the attempt to save the bike. "Immediate instructions have been issued to ensure medical treatment for the injured," he added.

Both incidents have cast a shadow over the state, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls for stricter safety protocols in residential and transport sectors. Officials have ordered detailed investigations into both accidents.