Key Takeaways
- 20 passengers killed, 16 injured in Jaisalmer bus fire
- Overloaded sleeper bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur
- PM Modi announces ₹2 lakh compensation for deceased, ₹50,000 for injured
- Fire erupted near Thaiyat village around 3:30 PM
In a tragic road accident, twenty passengers were burnt alive and sixteen others sustained severe burn injuries when an air-conditioned sleeper bus caught fire near Thaiyat village in Jaisalmer on Tuesday afternoon. The bus was traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when the incident occurred around 3:30 PM.
Critical Condition of Injured
Several of the injured, including women and children, are reported to be in critical condition. Most victims sustained burns of up to 70% and were initially taken to Jawahar Government Hospital in Jaisalmer before being referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment.
Overloaded Bus and Rescue Challenges
The private bus was carrying 57 passengers, indicating it was overloaded. The bodies of the deceased remained inside the vehicle until late evening as rescue efforts were hampered by intense heat. The cause of the fire, which erupted from the rear section near the war museum approximately 20 km from Jaisalmer, is yet to be determined.
Official Response and Compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia assistance of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for each injured person. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma canceled all engagements in Jaipur and traveled to Jaisalmer with Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar to assess the situation.
“Though the fire was doused by our team, 10 to 12 passengers are feared to have been burnt alive,” said Municipal Council Fire Officer Krishnapal Singh Rathore.
Eyewitness Accounts and Local Response
According to eyewitnesses, several passengers jumped from the moving vehicle in desperate attempts to escape the rapidly spreading flames. Local residents from Thaiyat village and passersby immediately rushed to the scene to assist in relief operations as the entire bus became engulfed in fire.
