A catastrophic fire broke out on a moving AC sleeper bus Tuesday afternoon on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway, trapping passengers inside as the automatic door locked and flames spread with terrifying speed. Many were forced to shatter windows to escape the inferno, while others remained trapped and perished.
First responders arriving at the scene described a horrifying spectacle of a bus consumed by fire, with survivors desperately trying to escape. Witnesses reported seeing individuals as young as eight and as old as 79 among the victims. The immediate aftermath saw 16 people pulled from the wreckage, while the devastating blaze claimed the lives of 20 passengers.
The incident occurred around 3:30 pm, with the bus carrying 57 people. The fire’s rapid progression led to passengers jumping from the moving vehicle in a bid to save themselves. The delayed arrival of rescue services, particularly the Army with a JCB to breach the locked door, meant nearly 50 minutes passed before significant evacuation efforts could begin.
Eyewitness accounts highlight the overwhelming intensity of the fire, making it nearly impossible to approach the vehicle. Even with the assistance of a water tanker, rescuers could not save all those trapped. Reports indicate a significant delay in the fire brigade’s response.
It is estimated that around 40 individuals remained inside the bus when it was engulfed in flames, with only 16 survivors rescued. Families are anxiously awaiting information, describing a lack of communication from authorities regarding the fate of their loved ones.
The bus, owned by KK Travels, was a recent conversion to an AC sleeper and had only been operational for five days. The suspected cause is an electrical short circuit in the AC unit. The bus’s interior, including fiber materials and curtains, fueled the rapid spread of the fire, and the single exit door became a deadly trap.
Severely burned survivors were transported to Jodhpur via a dedicated green corridor. Medical teams and officials have been mobilized to provide care, and the Chief Minister visited the injured. Investigations are underway, with forensic experts dispatched to the scene to determine the exact cause and identify victims.