JAISALMER: A private bus, recently modified from non-AC to AC just a week ago, turned into a deadly inferno on Tuesday afternoon, killing 20 people — including three children — and critically injuring 15 others. The fire broke out near Thaiyat village, about 10 km from Jaisalmer city, trapping passengers inside as flames engulfed the front of the bus, blocking all exits.
Also Read : Bareilly clashes: I Love Muhammad poster not issue, unruly mob was, says police chief
Short Circuit Sparks Jaisalmer Bus Inferno, 19 Killed and Several Injured
A Jodhpur-based travel agency, KK Travels, operated the bus that departed from Jaisalmer for Jodhpur at 3 PM. Survivors and officials said the fire began near the Jaisalmer Army station after a short circuit in the air-conditioning system caused a gas leak. The leak ignited the front portion of the bus, and flames quickly spread through the curtains and seat cushions. Pokhran MLA Pratap Puri confirmed that the short circuit likely caused the fire, which turned the bus into a death trap within minutes. Rescue teams recovered 19 charred bodies from the vehicle. They rushed 16 critically injured passengers to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer before shifting them to Jodhpur for advanced treatment. One passenger, 75-year-old Hussain Khan, later died from his injuries.
Also Read: Trump Team to Introduce Additional H-1B Visa Limits Following $100,000 Fee Increase
Rescue delayed as blazing bus traps passengers in Jaisalmer
Six victims hailed from Jodhpur, while the others were residents of Jaisalmer. Officials identified several injured passengers, including Mahipal Singh (50), Olaram (45), Yunus (8), Manoj Bhatia (45), Iqbal (52), Firoz (40), Baga Bai (54), Pir Mohammed (60), Jeevraj (15), Imamat (60), Vishakha (24), Ashish (26), Rafiq (79), Lakshman (35), and Ubaidullah (48). The Army’s Battle Axe Division, stationed nearby, launched the first rescue operation. General Officer Commanding Major General Ashish Khurana led the Army team, which coordinated efforts with police and local villagers.
However, Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh said the intense heat delayed the rescue by nearly four hours, as the bus’s metal body remained too hot to access and trapped bodies couldn’t be removed immediately.Because of an ongoing war exercise in the region, Army vehicles were unavailable for transport. Officials arranged a BSF vehicle to carry the charred bodies to Jodhpur for forensic examination and DNA testing, as many victims were burned beyond recognition.
[…] Also Read : Jaisalmer Bus Fire: New Vehicle Turns Death Trap, Front Blaze Blocks Escape […]