A horrific bus fire on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur route on Tuesday afternoon resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers, many of whom were trapped inside a moving AC sleeper bus that caught fire and locked its doors. The intense blaze rapidly engulfed the vehicle, forcing survivors to break windows to escape the deadly inferno.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter chaos and despair as they witnessed the bus engulfed in flames. One observer noted the tragic sight of children and elderly individuals being among those trapped. “People were burning inside, but we couldn’t reach them,” one witness lamented.
The bus, carrying 57 passengers, caught fire around 3:30 pm. The speed at which the flames spread led many passengers to jump from the vehicle while it was still in motion. Emergency services faced significant delays, with nearly an hour passing before the Army arrived with a JCB vehicle to force open the main exit and rescue those still inside.
Despite immediate efforts by locals and the arrival of a water tanker, the fire’s ferocity prevented many rescues. Fire brigade services were reportedly absent from the scene for nearly 45 minutes after being summoned.
Of the 57 people on board, only 16 were pulled out alive by rescuers. Approximately 40 others are feared to have succumbed to the flames. Families are in distress, desperately seeking information about their relatives who were on the bus.
The KK Travels bus had been recently modified into an AC sleeper and had been operating on the route for merely five days. Investigators suspect a short circuit in the air conditioning unit as the likely cause. The bus’s construction, featuring a fiber body and curtains, significantly contributed to the fire’s rapid escalation. Compounding the tragedy, the bus had only one operational exit, which became jammed, trapping passengers.
Injured passengers were rushed to hospitals in Jaisalmer and then transferred to Jodhpur for specialized treatment. A green corridor was created for the rapid transfer of 16 severely burned individuals to Jodhpur hospitals.
Authorities are conducting investigations, with FSL experts examining the site. The Rajasthan Chief Minister visited the injured, ensuring medical teams were coordinating care. Forensic tests, including DNA analysis, are planned to identify the victims.