A moving AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway in Jaisalmer on Tuesday, and around 20 people are feared dead, while several others have been referred to hospitals in Jodhpur, officials said.
The fire quickly engulfed the vehicle, and according to eyewitnesses, passengers jumped from the moving bus to escape. Jaisalmer District Collector has requested family members of the passengers to come forward to identify the deceased.
Collector Pratap Singh said, “An air-conditioned sleeper bus from a private company was travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when this incident happened… The district administration has opened a helpline, and I request family members of the passengers to come forward and help identify the dead persons.”
The injured passengers were taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer in three ambulances, from where they were all referred to Jodhpur.
A moving AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway in Jaisalmer on Tuesday, and around 20 people are feared dead, while several others have been referred to hospitals in Jodhpur, officials said. pic.twitter.com/8d3LV7QnYW
According to sources, many passengers suffered up to 70% burns. There were 57 people on board the bus, which is believed to have caught fire due to a short circuit.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma travelled to Jaisalmer to take stock of the situation. In a statement on X, he said, “The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is extremely heart-wrenching. I express deep condolences to the people affected by this tragic accident. Instructions have been given to the concerned authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and to provide all possible assistance to those affected.”
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma travelled to Jaisalmer to take stock of the situation.
The bus departed from Jaisalmer for Jodhpur as usual at around 3 pm. About 20 kilometres on, near Thaiyat village, smoke suddenly began to rise from the rear of the bus, and flames engulfed it quickly, officials said.
With the whole vehicle going up in flames, nearby village residents and passersby rushed to the scene. Three ambulances took the injured passengers to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer.
