Jaisalmer: In a horrific tragedy, at least 20 passengers lost their lives and 16 others sustained critical injuries after a private bus caught fire near the Thaiyat area of Jaisalmer district on Tuesday afternoon. The vehicle, carrying 57 passengers, was travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when it was suddenly engulfed in flames close to a military station.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred around 3 PM on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway. Eyewitnesses said thick plumes of smoke began rising from the air-conditioned bus, prompting the driver to stop immediately. However, the flames spread within seconds, trapping several passengers inside before they could escape.
Local villagers and passersby rushed to the scene, risking their lives to pull passengers out of the burning vehicle. Despite their heroic efforts, the fire spread rapidly, completely consuming the bus before fire tenders could reach and douse the blaze.
Preliminary investigations suggest that illegal transportation of firecrackers inside the bus may have caused the fire. Authorities suspect that a short circuit triggered sparks which ignited the explosives, leading to the catastrophic explosion. However, officials emphasized that the exact cause is still under investigation and a detailed probe has been initiated.
The Jaisalmer Police confirmed that 20 people died on the spot, while the 16 critically injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash Paswan informed that the injured have been shifted to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and Shri Ram Hospital in Jodhpur for specialized treatment.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the accident site and reviewed the situation with officials. Expressing deep sorrow, he said, “The bus accident in Jaisalmer is extremely tragic. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured.” The Chief Minister directed authorities to provide the best possible medical care and announced that the state government would extend all necessary assistance to victims and their families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the tragedy, terming the loss of lives “distressing.” Through a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he said, “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jaisalmer. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The Prime Minister announced ₹2 lakh each from the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives, and ₹50,000 each for those injured.
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Police and forensic teams have begun an in-depth investigation to determine whether firecrackers or other inflammable materials were being transported illegally and to identify those responsible for the tragic incident.
The devastating accident has left the desert state in shock, with grieving families demanding strict action against those responsible for negligence and violation of transport safety norms.
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