Jaisalmer: At least 20 passengers were burnt to death and 16 others sustained critical injuries after a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, police said.

The bus, carrying 57 passengers, had departed Jaisalmer around 3 pm when smoke was noticed from the rear portion along the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway. The driver stopped the vehicle on the roadside, but the flames rapidly engulfed the bus within minutes.

Local residents, passers-by, and Army personnel rushed to assist in rescue efforts while fire tenders and police teams were immediately alerted. The injured were first admitted to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer, and those in critical condition were later referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment.

According to preliminary investigations, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. BJP MLA from Pokran, Pratap Puri, said 19 passengers died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries en route to Jodhpur. He added that the fire broke out barely ten minutes after leaving Jaisalmer.

The district administration has appealed to families for help in identifying the victims, with the bodies to be released after DNA verification. District Collector Pratap Singh directed officials to ensure swift medical care for the injured, and helpline numbers have been issued for relatives seeking information.

Following news of the tragedy, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma rushed to Jaisalmer, where he was briefed on the situation by local officials. The administration stated that rescue and relief operations were launched immediately after the incident.

Expressing his sorrow on X, Chief Minister Sharma called the incident “extremely heart-wrenching” and directed authorities to provide proper medical aid and full assistance to the victims’ families. Governor Haribhau Bagade, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, and BJP state president Madan Rathore, among others, also offered condolences.

Gehlot described the deaths of 20 passengers as a deeply unfortunate tragedy, while the chief minister assured that the government would extend all possible support to the injured and the bereaved families.

With inputs from PTI