Fire on Jaisalmer-Jodhpur bus leads to multiple casualties and injuries.
At least 20 individuals lost their lives, and 16 others sustained injuries when an air-conditioned sleeper bus caught fire in Rajasthan. The incident occurred near Thaiyat village as the bus was en route from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports from ANI.
The bus had departed from Jaisalmer around 3 PM when smoke started emanating from its rear section, which quickly escalated into a fire. There were 57 passengers on board at the time of the incident, as reported by The Hindu.
In the aftermath, the injured passengers were transported to Jawahar Government Hospital in Jaisalmer. Following initial treatment, many were subsequently referred to hospitals in Jodhpur for more comprehensive care. Jodhpur Commissioner of Police Om Prakash Paswan confirmed that 15 of the injured individuals were being treated at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, while one person was receiving care at Sri Ram Hospital.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site of the tragedy to assess the situation personally. He assured that measures would be taken to ensure that the injured receive adequate medical treatment and that all possible assistance would be extended to those affected by the fire. “The state government stands with the affected families and is committed to providing them with every possible support,” Sharma stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of life and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased. He also declared a compensation of Rs 50,000 for those injured in the incident.
Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot acknowledged the tragic nature of the event, confirming the death toll of 20 and noting that several injured individuals were on ventilators and suffering from severe burns. He emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, particularly highlighting concerns about the bus’s condition, which was reportedly acquired only 10 days prior to the incident. Gehlot insisted that a formal complaint should be lodged against the company responsible for the bus to ascertain how such a catastrophic event could occur.
As investigations are set to begin, the focus will be on determining the technical aspects that may have led to the bus catching fire, with authorities under pressure to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
