Jaisalmer Bus Fire: 20 Passengers Burnt Alive, 16 Critical; Bodies Shifted To Jodhpur For DNA Profiling

 

 

Jaisalmer: Twenty passengers were burnt alive and 16 others were critically injured in Rajasthan when a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur suddenly went up in flames on Tuesday afternoon.

The bus (registration RJ 09PA8040) with 57 passengers aboard was minutes from starting its journey between the towns of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur when the fire broke out. The flames engulfed the bus in seconds, so much so that many passengers didn’t get time to deboard.

The bodies of 19 passengers were recovered from the bus, while one person succumbed to their burns on the way to a hospital, officials said.

 

The incident occurred near Thaiyat village, about 20 kilometres from Jaisalmer, around 3.30 pm, causing chaos and panic on the busy route. The bus had left Jaisalmer at around 3 pm on board. Soon after crossing Thaiyat village, passengers noticed smoke from the rear portion of the vehicle. The flames spread within moments, engulfing the entire bus.

 

Many passengers rushed to the windows and doors in a desperate attempt to escape, while villagers and passersby immediately rushed to the scene and began rescue operations even before the arrival of emergency services. People used water from nearby sources and sand to douse the flames and pull out the trapped passengers.

Firefighters and police soon reached the spot and took the injured to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer in three ambulances. Doctors at the hospital provided first aid, while those with severe burns were referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment.

 

Army personnel from the nearby Army War Museum reached the spot to assist in rescue and relief efforts. The blaze was brought under control after an hour of struggle by firefighters. Officials said that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, though preliminary reports suggest a possible short circuit or engine overheating. An investigation has been initiated by the police. District Collector Pratap Singh has directed the concerned officials to ensure immediate relief and medical care to the injured passengers.

 

 

Sources told ETV Bharat that the bodies of the 20 people were brought to Jodhpur's Mahatma Gandhi Hospital late Tuesday night for identification. The Jodhpur district administration has appealed to citizens to collect DNA samples from two of the closest relatives to identify those who are missing or untraceable in the fire accident.

For this purpose, special arrangements have been made in cottages 4 and 5 of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur, and in the trauma centre of Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer. District Collector Gaurav Agarwal stated that expert teams are coming to Jodhpur from Ajmer and Bikaner to expedite the DNA identification process.