A suspected electrical short circuit triggered a devastating fire on a passenger bus in northern India on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others as flames rapidly engulfed the vehicle.
The bus, carrying between 35 and 50 passengers, had just begun its journey from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan when smoke was seen rising from the rear of the vehicle. Within minutes, the fire spread with alarming speed, trapping many on board.
“Passengers didn’t get time to deboard the bus as the fire spread quickly,” said Mahant Pratap Puri, a local lawmaker from the ruling party, who was at the scene as rescue operations began.
Nineteen bodies were recovered from the charred vehicle, while another victim died on the way to hospital. At least 15 passengers were critically injured and are receiving treatment.
The bus driver managed to pull over near a military station shortly after smoke was detected, but the situation escalated rapidly. The vehicle’s single entry and exit door, combined with air-conditioning systems filled with refrigerant gas, made escape difficult. “Unfortunately, the passengers seated on the rear end couldn’t make it to the exit and were burnt alive,” Puri said.
Authorities have appealed to families to come forward to help identify victims, with DNA testing planned to confirm identities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed their condolences to the victims’ families, calling the fire a tragic and heartbreaking incident.