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Jaisalmer (Rajasthan):
At least 20 people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus caught fire near the Pokhran area of Jaisalmer on Tuesday. The tragedy occurred when the private bus, carrying around 45 passengers, was en route from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer and burst into flames following a suspected short circuit or fuel leakage, officials said.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, engulfing the vehicle within minutes. Local residents and passersby rushed to help, breaking windows to rescue trapped passengers before fire tenders arrived. Firefighters battled the blaze for over an hour before bringing it under control.
District Collector Ashish Gupta confirmed that 20 people lost their lives, while over a dozen others sustained burn injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals. The condition of several victims remains critical.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, describing the incident as “deeply distressing.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The bus accident in Jaisalmer is extremely painful. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma directed officials to ensure immediate medical assistance to the injured and ordered an inquiry into the cause of the fire. “This is a tragic incident. All possible help will be provided to the affected families,” he said.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the fire was triggered by an electrical fault or a fuel tank explosion. The state transport department is also inspecting the safety compliance of private buses operating in the region.
The horrific accident has sent shockwaves across Rajasthan, prompting renewed calls for stricter safety checks on long-distance buses and emergency preparedness on highways.
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, NDTV, etc.) transparently.]
