Jaisalmer: A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday when an air-conditioned passenger bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway, leaving multiple people injured and several feared dead, police said.
According to Jaisalmer Municipal Council’s Assistant Fire Officer Krishanpal Singh Rathore, at least 15 passengers including four women and three children sustained severe burn injuries. The incident took place around 3:30 pm, roughly 20 km from Jaisalmer, after passengers noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle.
The bus, carrying 57 passengers bound for Jodhpur, was engulfed in flames before everyone could evacuate. Local residents and travelers nearby quickly alerted authorities and assisted with rescue efforts. Three ambulances rushed the injured to Jawahir Hospital in Jaisalmer.
Officials suspect that the fire originated in the air-conditioning unit, which then spread rapidly across the bus. Many passengers suffered burns on their faces, hands, and legs.
Eyewitness Ameen Khan, who was near the War Museum in Thaiyat village, described the scene as chaotic. “The bus was already on fire when I reached. People were screaming for help. I took one man, who was severely injured, to the hospital on my bike,” he said. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities.
Barmer MP Ummedaram Beniwal expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “heartbreaking” and extending condolences to the victims’ families. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also offered condolences, describing the mishap as “extremely distressing.” The CM said he had directed officials to provide the best treatment for the injured and extend all possible assistance to those affected.
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