Jaisalmer bus inferno: How vehicle bought 5 days ago became a death trap; flames at front blocked escape

JAISALMER: A private bus, recently modified from non-AC to AC just a week ago, turned into a deadly inferno on Tuesday afternoon, killing 20 people — including three children — and critically injuring 15 others.

The fire broke out near Thaiyat village, about 10 km from Jaisalmer city, trapping passengers inside as flames engulfed the front of the bus, blocking all exits. The vehicle, operated by Jodhpur-based KK Travels, had departed from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur at its scheduled time of 3 PM. According to survivors and officials, the blaze began when the bus reached near the Jaisalmer Army station. A likely short circuit in the air-conditioning system caused a gas leak that ignited the front portion, rapidly spreading fire through curtains and seat cushions.

Passengers seated toward the rear had no way to escape. Pokhran MLA Pratap Puri confirmed the suspected cause and said the fire turned the bus into a trap within minutes. Nineteen charred bodies were recovered from inside the vehicle, while 16 critically injured passengers were initially treated at Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer and later shifted to Jodhpur. One of them, 75-year-old Hussain Khan, succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Six of the deceased were from Jodhpur, while the remaining were residents of Jaisalmer. Officials identified several of the injured, including Mahipal Singh (50), Olaram (45), Yunus (8), Manoj Bhatia (45), Iqbal (52), Firoz (40), Baga Bai (54), Pir Mohammed (60), Jeevraj (15), Imamat (60), Vishakha (24), Ashish (26), Rafiq (79), Lakshman (35), and Ubaidullah (48). Survivor Manoj Bhatia’s family said the fire spread so fast that the front of the bus was engulfed before anyone could react.

The seat cushions and curtains caught fire instantly, trapping everyone inside. The first response came from the Army’s Battle Axe Division, stationed nearby. General Officer Commanding Major General Ashish Khurana led the Army’s rescue team, working alongside police and local villagers. However, according to Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh, rescue operations were delayed by nearly four hours due to the intense heat — the bus’s metal body remained too hot to access, delaying removal of trapped bodies. Due to an ongoing war exercise in the region, Army vehicles were unavailable for transport. A BSF vehicle was eventually arranged to carry the charred bodies to Jodhpur for forensic examination and DNA sampling, as many victims were burned beyond recognition. The district administration has so far identified the bodies of Rajendra Singh Chauhan, Hasina, Irfan, Barkat Khan, Gopilal, Ayub Khan, and Nasira. Forensic and DNA teams were deployed at the site to aid identification. The tragedy has drawn nationwide attention. President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The news of the deaths of several people due to a fire in a bus in Jaisalmer is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.” Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan also posted on X: “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the tragic bus fire incident in Jaisalmer. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief and announced financial aid. In a post by the PMO, he said: “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jaisalmer. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” The PM also announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the accident site on Tuesday evening and then travelled to Jodhpur to meet the injured. Assistant fire officer Krishnapal Singh Rathore confirmed 20 deaths and said a short circuit remains the most likely cause. Authorities have now begun probing the bus operator and the recent AC modification. Questions are being raised about safety clearances and whether proper checks were done after the conversion. The remains of the bus have been moved to the Army station for further investigation.