A tragic accident struck Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district on October 14, 2025, when a Jaisalmer–Jodhpur passenger bus caught fire near Thaiyat village, killing at least 20 people, including three children, and leaving 16 others critically injured.
The bus, carrying 57 passengers, had left Jaisalmer around 3 PM. About 20 km from the city, smoke began rising from the rear, prompting the driver to stop. Within moments, flames engulfed the entire vehicle, trapping passengers seated at the back.
The Army’s Battle Axe Division, local police, and firefighters joined villagers in a massive rescue operation. However, intense heat delayed recovery efforts for hours. Nineteen bodies were found charred inside the bus, while another victim succumbed during treatment.
Initial probe suggests a short circuit in the bus’s AC system may have caused a gas leak, triggering the fire. Some reports also indicate illegal transport of firecrackers in the air-conditioned compartment, which could have intensified the blaze.
The critically injured were first treated at Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer before being shifted to Jodhpur via a green corridor. Authorities have also set up helplines for families and begun DNA testing to identify the badly burnt bodies.
PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan expressed deep condolences. PM Modi announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the deceased’s next of kin and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PM’s Relief Fund.
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