Twenty people, including three children, died, and 16 were critically injured when a bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday afternoon near Thaiyat village, about 10 km from Jaisalmer city.
According to officials, 19 charred bodies were recovered from inside the bus. Another victim, 75-year-old Hussain Khan, died during treatment.
Faulty Local AC System Caused the Fire
Initial investigations and local sources revealed that a “jugad” (locally modified) air conditioning system was the cause of the fire. The bus was originally non-AC but was converted into an AC sleeper coach without any official approval or safety checks.
VIDEO | Jaisalmer: Fire breaks out in a private bus enroute to Jodhpur near the War Museum; injured passengers rushed to Jawahar Hospital for treatment. pic.twitter.com/OZi7V2GGFA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 14, 2025
Sources said the AC wiring was done locally, and due to excessive electrical load, a short circuit occurred. The bus’s fiber body, narrow aisle, and curtains helped the flames spread quickly. Passengers got trapped inside as they had no time to escape. The bus was also overloaded and did not have an emergency exit.
Army and Locals Led Overnight Rescue Operation
The bus caught fire near an Army area. Soldiers and local villagers rushed to the spot and began rescue operations immediately. Personnel from the Army’s Battle Axe Division were the first to respond.
Major General Ashish Khurana, General Officer Commanding of the division, led the efforts along with the local police and villagers. The Army used a JCB machine to break open the bus gate, which had automatically locked after the fire broke out.
Jaisalmer collector Pratap Singh said rescue work was delayed because “the vehicle’s metal frame remained extremely hot for nearly four hours.” Firefighters reached the scene after 45 minutes, but by then, the bus was completely burnt.
Burnt Bus Under Technical Inspection
The burnt remains of the bus have been kept inside the Army area. A technical inspection team will visit the site on Wednesday morning to examine the vehicle and determine the exact cause of the accident.
Pokhran MLA Pratap Puri told TOI that “a short circuit in the bus’s air-conditioning system may have triggered a gas leak, causing the fire.”
Bodies Sent for DNA Identification
As a large military exercise was ongoing in Jaisalmer, no Army vehicles were available to carry the bodies. The Border Security Force (BSF) later used one of its vehicles to transport the remains to Jodhpur for forensic analysis and DNA testing.
Many victims were burnt beyond recognition. Officials identified only a few victims by Tuesday night — Rajendra Singh Chauhan, Hasina, Irfan, Barkat Khan, Gopilal, Ayub Khan, and Nasira.
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