JAIPUR: At least 20 passengers of a private air-conditioned sleeper bus were killed when the overloaded bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village on Tuesday afternoon.
The bus belonging to KK Travels, Ratangarh, Churu was carrying 57 passengers. 16 injured passengers have been moved to hospitals. Of the injured, 15 are being treated at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur, and one injured is receiving treatment at Shri Ram Hospital.
Several of the passengers injured, including women and children, are reported to be in critical condition.
Police said when the bus was traversing the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway the driver noticed smoke emanating from the vehicle’s rear portion and stopped the vehicle. But the flame engulfed the bus within few minutes.
Local people from Thaiyat village and passers-by rushed to the spot to assist in relief efforts.
According to police the bodies of the deceased remained inside the vehicle till late Tuesday evening, as rescue efforts were delayed due to intense heat. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Nineteen passengers died on the spot, while one succumbed to burn injuries on way to Jodhpur. Reports citing eyewitness said, many passengers jumped out of the moving bus in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze.
“Distressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wrote on X upon hearing about the incident.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of deceased. The amount would be released from PMNRF. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma reached Jaisalmer and was briefed by the officers. He told media that officials have been instructed to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and all possible assistance to the affected people.
“The news of the deaths of several people due to a fire in a bus in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” President Droupadi Murmu wrote in a post on X in Hindi.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed deep sorrow over the incident and cancelled all engagements in Jaipur. Mr. Sharma, accompanied by Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, left for Jaisalmer by a special plane to visit the site and was expected to travel to Jodhpur later to meet the injured.
“The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is extremely heart-wrenching. I express deep condolences to those affected by this tragic accident. Directions have been given to officials concerned for the proper treatment of the injured and to extend every possible help to the victims,” he posted on X.
President Droupadi Murmu said the loss of lives due to a fire in a bus in Rajasthan is extremely heartbreaking and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The news of the deaths of several people due to a fire in a bus in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
“This is a very sad and unfortunate incident. A wave of grief is sweeping the state. We need to give courage to the families of those who are injured,” Sheo Constituency MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati said. He also requested the family members of those who have not been identified in the bus tragedy to contact the district administration’s helpline number and provide a DNA sample.
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, BJP state president Madan Rathore and other leaders expressed sorrow over the tragic incident.
District Administrations of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are working diligently and actively.”
The district administration stated that DNA samples will be collected from two of the deceased’s closest relatives to identify them. Special arrangements have been made for this purpose at Cottages 4 and 5 of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur, and at the Trauma Centre of Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer.
“If anyone in your family is missing, please contact the helpline numbers below and receive the necessary assistance. District Control Room, Jodhpur, 0291-2650349, 2650350, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital- 09414159222, State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Jodhpur 9414919021, Trauma Centre, Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer 9460106451, 9636908033, Jaisalmer Helpline Numbers, 9414801400, 8003101400, 02992 252201, 02992 255055”.
An expert team is coming to Jodhpur from Ajmer and Bikaner to expedite the DNA identification process, it said.
