20 Killed, 15 Injured in Horrific Rajasthan Bus Fire; Probe Points to Short Circuit and Safety Lapses. 

Jaisalmer/Jodhpur:

At least 20 people were killed and 15 others injured after a private AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway on Tuesday afternoon. The bus, operated by KK Travels and carrying 57 passengers, was engulfed in flames minutes after departing Jaisalmer around 3 pm.

According to Pokaran MLA Mahant Pratap Puri, preliminary evidence suggests a short circuit in the bus battery may have triggered the blaze, with a suspected AC compressor blast intensifying it. Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar stated that a loud explosion from the rear was heard, likely caused by the combination of AC gas, diesel, and possibly firecrackers stored in the luggage compartment.

Most victims were trapped inside as the bus had only one functional exit and lacked emergency safety measures such as additional doors, window hammers, and fire extinguishers. The interiors, made of flammable fiber panels and curtains, accelerated the inferno. Survivors said the bus turned into a fireball in under 7 minutes.

Nineteen charred bodies were recovered from the site, and one victim died during treatment in Jodhpur. DNA tests are being conducted to identify the deceased. Among the victims was an entire family from Balesar and local journalist Rajendra Singh Chauhan.

A green corridor was created to rush the injured to hospitals. Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site and assured full support to the affected families. PM Modi and President Murmu expressed grief, announcing Rs. 2 lakh ex gratia for the deceased’s families and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.

The bus, registered only on October 1 and granted an all-India permit on October 9, has raised serious concerns over vehicle safety regulations. An investigation is underway, and a booking agent has been detained for questioning.