Jaisalmer: At least 20 passengers were charred to death and 16 sustained critical injuries after a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, police said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives.
According to police, the bus carrying 57 passengers departed from Jaisalmer around 3 p.m. When it reached the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway, smoke began rising from the rear of the vehicle. The driver immediately pulled over, but within moments, flames engulfed the bus.
Local residents and passers-by rushed to help, while Army personnel also joined the rescue efforts. Fire tenders and police soon arrived at the spot, and the injured were rushed to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer.
Authorities said 16 critically injured passengers were later referred to a hospital in Jodhpur for advanced treatment.
Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire, police added.
