20 Burnt Alive as Bus Catches Fire in Jaisalmer
Police said 16 critically injured passengers have been referred to a hospital in Jodhpur
Jaisalmer, New Delhi: Twenty passengers were burnt alive and 16 were critically injured when a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, police said. The bus was carrying 57 passengers and had left Jaisalmer around 3 pm.
The first indications of trouble emerged when smoke began emerging from the rear portion. The driver stopped the bus along the roadside, but flames engulfed the vehicle within moments. Locals and passers-by assisted in the rescue efforts. Army personnel also assisted in the operation.
Fire tenders and police were informed, and the injured passengers were taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer for treatment. Prima facie, it appears that the fire broke out due to a short circuit, police said.
BJP MLA from Pokran Pratap Puri placed the toll at 20. He said that the bus caught fire ten minutes after leaving Jaisalmer.
Following the accident, the district administration has issued an appeal for information to the kin of the victims to ascertain their identity. The bodies will be handed over to family members after DNA matching, officials said.
Upon receiving information regarding the incident, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma reached Jaisalmer and was briefed by the officers.
