Bus inferno kills 20 in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer as passengers leap from burning vehicle

A routine intercity journey turned into a blazing nightmare on October 14 when an air-conditioned sleeper bus caught fire while travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, leaving at least 20 people dead and several others critically injured.

The tragedy unfolded on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway near Thaiyat village, around 20 kilometres from Jaisalmer, when smoke began rising from the rear of the moving vehicle. Within minutes, flames engulfed the entire bus.

Eyewitnesses said passengers were seen jumping from the moving vehicle in desperate attempts to escape the inferno.

“There were 57 people on board. Many sustained severe burns, some up to 70%. The injured were rushed to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer and later referred to Jodhpur,” said District Collector Pratap Singh. He added that a helpline has been opened and appealed to families to help identify the deceased.

Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit. The bus, operated by a private company, had departed from Jaisalmer around 3 pm.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who reached Jaisalmer to review rescue operations, expressed deep grief over the tragedy. “The incident is extremely heart-wrenching. Directions have been issued to ensure the best treatment for the injured and extend all possible assistance to the victims’ families,” he said in a statement on X.

As firefighters battled the flames, locals and passersby joined in rescue efforts, pulling out survivors and transporting the injured in ambulances. Officials said the charred remains of several passengers were found inside the gutted vehicle, marking one of Rajasthan’s deadliest highway disasters in recent years.