Jaisalmer: A devastating fire engulfed an AC sleeper bus on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway on Tuesday, claiming 20 lives.
The bus, carrying 57 passengers, caught fire around 3 pm, reportedly due to a short circuit, confirmed Pokaran MLA Pratappuri. The blaze rapidly consumed the vehicle, leaving little time for escape.
Among the victims were two children, four women, and nine others, with most sustaining severe burns up to 70%. The injured were rushed to Jawahir Hospital in Jaisalmer and later referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment. Authorities will use DNA testing to identify the deceased, as the fire left many bodies unrecognisable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish, announcing an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. “My thoughts are with the affected families in this difficult time,” he posted on X. President Droupadi Murmu also shared her condolences, calling the incident “heart-wrenching” and praying for the swift recovery of the injured.
The tragedy unfolded when smoke was spotted rising from the bus’s rear. Despite the driver pulling over, flames quickly engulfed the vehicle. Investigations are underway to ascertain the exact cause and prevent future tragedies.
The nation mourns as families grapple with this horrific loss, and calls for stricter safety measures on public transport grow louder.