20 killed as AC sleeper bus catches fire in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer
According to preliminary reports, the fire erupted from the rear of the bus, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, and quickly engulfed the entire vehicle.
According to preliminary reports, the fire erupted from the rear of the bus, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, and quickly engulfed the entire vehicle.
According to preliminary reports, the fire erupted from the rear of the bus, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, and quickly engulfed the entire vehicle.
Jaisalmer: Around 20 people were burnt alive on Tuesday afternoon when a moving AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway near Thaiyat village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The fire, which broke out around 3.30 pm, claimed the lives of 20 passengers, including 79-year-old Hussain Khan, who succumbed to injuries in Jodhpur. The remaining 19 passengers were declared dead in Jaisalmer.
According to preliminary reports, the fire erupted from the rear of the bus, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, and quickly engulfed the entire vehicle. There were 57 passengers on board. In a desperate attempt to escape, several people jumped from the moving bus.
At least 15 passengers, including four women and two children, sustained serious burn injuries, with some suffering up to 70 per cent burns. They were first taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer and later referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment.
A green corridor was created on National Highway 125 to ensure their urgent transfer, with eight ambulances escorted by police. District Collector Pratap Singh confirmed that the bus was completely gutted and many victims were burned beyond recognition. DNA and forensic teams from Jodhpur have reached the site to help identify the bodies.
The Collector has appealed to the families of the deceased to contact the district helpline set up by the administration. He said, “The identity of the deceased will be confirmed through DNA testing, similar to the protocol followed in the Ahmedabad plane crash. Only then will the bodies be handed over to their families.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma arrived in Jaisalmer late Tuesday night and inspected the burnt bus. CMO officials said he expressed his gratitude to Army personnel and residents for their assistance during rescue efforts.
Pokaran MLA Pratap Puri and MLA Sang Singh Bhati, along with administrative officials, were present during the inspection. The Chief Minister will also visit Jodhpur to meet the injured being treated there, officials added.
(With IANS inputs)