Rajasthan tragedy: Bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur catches fire; 20 dead; 16 injured

NEW DELHI: At least 20 passengers were burnt alive and 16 others critically injured when a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

According to BJP MLA from Pokran Pratap Puri, 19 passengers died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries on the way to Jodhpur.

The bus, carrying 57 passengers, had left Jaisalmer around 3 pm and caught fire barely ten minutes later after smoke began rising from its rear portionPreliminary reports suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, officials told PTI. The driver stopped the vehicle along the roadside, but flames quickly engulfed the bus.

Locals, Army personnel, and passers-by joined rescue efforts before firefighters and police reached the scene.

Sixteen critically injured passengers were first admitted to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer before being referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment.

Authorities have begun DNA testing to identify the victims, with the district administration issuing an appeal to the kin of those missing to come forward.

#WATCH | Rajasthan: A Jaisalmer-Jodhpur bus burst into flames in Jaisalmer. Fire tenders and Police present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/8vcxx5ID1q

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2025

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma posted on X, “The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is deeply heart-wrenching. I express my profound condolences to the citizens affected by this tragic accident".

जैसलमेर में बस में लगी आग की घटना अत्यंत हृदयविदारक है। इस दुखद हादसे से प्रभावित नागरिकों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूं। संबंधित अधिकारियों को घायलों के समुचित उपचार एवं प्रभावितों को हरसंभव सहायता उपलब्ध कराने के निर्देश दिए गए हैं।

प्रभु श्रीराम दिवंगत आत्माओं को…

— Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) October 14, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the loss of lives, saying, “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.”

The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

Governor Haribhau Bagade, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, and BJP Rajasthan President Madan Rathore also mourned the tragedy, calling it “extremely painful and unbearable.” Rathore said the government had directed officials to expedite rescue and relief efforts and provide all necessary assistance to victims’ families.