NEW DELHI: Atleast 20 people were severely burnt, and one died in a major accident late Friday night near Mandiala village on the Hoshiarpur–Jalandhar highway after an LPG tanker collided with a pickup truck, causing a large explosion and fire. Initial reports suggest the accident may have started when a car hit the tanker, leading to a fire that caused the explosion. Emergency services, including fire tenders, ambulances, and Punjab Police, were promptly dispatched to the site, according to deputy commissioner Aashika Jain. “The fire broke out, probably due to a road accident. Patients with burn injuries have been admitted to the hospital. One casualty has been reported. It appears that a gas leak occurred following a road accident involving a gas tanker. This is an industrial area, so there may be some migrants who are injured here,” said Aashika Jain. Punjab minister Ravjot Singh visited the accident site and the hospital, assuring that the government would support the affected families. “A mini vehicle collided with the tanker, causing it to explode.. One person was brought dead. We will provide every possible help to compensate for the losses and ensure proper medical treatment.” said Singh. He added “The situation is such that it cannot be described. A very tragic accident has happened. It is not yet known how many people are missing. People are saying that a tanker hit a car, after which a blast occurred because gas leaked. The fire has spread widely,” (With agency inputs)