Tragedy Strikes at Jaisalmer; Bus fire kills 20: DNA tests underway to identify charred victims
Tragedy Strikes at Jaisalmer; Bus fire kills 20: DNA tests underway to identify charred victims
Tragedy strikes Rajasthan as AC sleeper bus catches fire on Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway; cause under probe amid claims of compressor burst and crackers onboard.
In a devastating accident on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway, at least 20 people were burnt alive after a private AC sleeper bus caught fire around 3:30 pm on Tuesday. The blaze was so intense that most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition, with only bone fragments left for DNA identification.
Officials said DNA sampling of the victims’ family members has begun at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur and Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer to confirm identities. Nineteen bodies were brought to Jodhpur late Tuesday night, while one was already being examined there.
Among the deceased was journalist Rajendra Chauhan and five members of the same family. Around 15 passengers sustained severe burn injuries, some with up to 70 percent burns, including a couple returning to Jodhpur after a pre-wedding shoot.
The bus, reportedly only five days old, was carrying 57 passengers when the fire broke out. Witnesses said flames erupted suddenly from the rear section. Local residents rushed to help, but the single exit door made escape difficult.
🚨 Terribly tragic!
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) October 15, 2025
20 people burnt alive after AC sleeper bus caught fire on Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Highway
Suspected short circuit in AC unit. Gas & diesel fueled the blaze
Only one exit, no safety tools. Passengers were trapped, struggled to escape as the only exit was locked… pic.twitter.com/sDHoLK67ro
Passenger Gajendra Singh Khinwasar said, “There was an explosion from behind—we think the AC compressor burst. The mix of gas and diesel caused a huge fire. People sitting in front managed to escape, but those inside were trapped.”
जैसलमेर में बस में लगी आग की घटना अत्यंत हृदयविदारक है। इस दुखद हादसे से प्रभावित नागरिकों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूं। संबंधित अधिकारियों को घायलों के समुचित उपचार एवं प्रभावितों को हरसंभव सहायता उपलब्ध कराने के निर्देश दिए गए हैं।
— Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) October 14, 2025
प्रभु श्रीराम दिवंगत आत्माओं को…
Officials are still investigating the exact cause of the fire. Early reports suggested a short circuit, while some locals alleged the bus was carrying firecrackers, which may have intensified the flames.
The Indian Army assisted in recovering the remains from the gutted vehicle.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief, writing that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life and property in the Jaisalmer accident.” The Prime Minister’s Relief Fund announced ₹2 lakh for each deceased’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The horrific accident, coming just days after the Ahmedabad Air India flight fire scare, has reignited concerns over transport safety and compliance checks on private luxury buses.
