Jaisalmer Bus Fire Kills 20; PM Modi Announces Financial Aid for Victims

Jaisalmer, October 15: At least 20 people lost their lives and several others were injured when a private bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village in Rajasthan on Tuesday afternoon. The bus, operated by KK Travels, had departed from Jaisalmer around 3 p.m. when smoke was first seen coming from its rear section. Eyewitnesses reported that the moving bus quickly caught fire, leading to multiple casualties. Jaisalmer Additional Superintendent of Police Kailash Dhan confirmed the incident, stating, “The moving bus burst into flames. Casualties have been reported. The injured have been rushed to the hospital. Rescue operation is continuing.” Local villagers and passersby rushed to the site to help passengers until fire and police teams arrived. Sixteen of the injured passengers were transported to Jodhpur for treatment. Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash Paswan said, “Fifteen injured are receiving treatment at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, and one at Shri Ram Hospital.” Rescue operations continued throughout the evening, with authorities working to identify all victims and provide assistance to their families. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her grief over the incident, stating on social media, “The news of the loss of life due to a bus fire in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, is deeply saddening. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and announced financial support for the victims. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, he said, “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” The PMO added that an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while ₹50,000 would be given to those injured in the accident. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the accident site and met officials overseeing the rescue operation. In a statement, he expressed deep grief and assured the best possible medical care for the injured. “The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is extremely heart-wrenching. I express deep condolences to those affected and have directed officials to provide all possible assistance,” the Chief Minister said. He added that the state government stands firmly with the families of the victims and will extend every possible support. The district administrations of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer have set up helpline numbers for families seeking information about their relatives. Authorities are also collecting DNA samples from relatives at designated centres, including Cottages 4 and 5 of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur and the Trauma Centre at Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer, to help identify the victims. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, and officials have requested public cooperation in identifying the victims and assisting with the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. The tragic incident has drawn national attention, highlighting the need for strict safety measures in passenger transport services. Jaisalmer Bus Fire Kills 20, PM Modi Announces Aid for Victims At least 20 people died and several were injured when a private bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village in Rajasthan. The fire started from the rear of the moving bus, and local villagers helped rescue passengers until authorities arrived. Sixteen injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Jodhpur. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief, with Modi announcing ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma assured full support and medical assistance to victims and their families.