Team News Riveting
Jaisalmer, October 14
Twenty passengers were burnt alive while 16 critically injured when a private bus plying from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday.
The ill-fated bus carrying 57 passengers left Jaisalmer around 3 pm today. The passengers noticed smoke emerging from the rear portion soon after the vehicle left Jaisalmer and alerted the driver who immediately stopped the bus along the roadside.
Unfortunately, the flames engulfed the vehicle before the passengers could evacuate. The preliminary investigation suggested that the fire broke out due to a short circuit, police said.
The locals and passers-by rushed to the spot and assisted in the rescue efforts. The Army personnel also joined them. The fire tenders and police later reached the spot and took control over the fire.
The injured passengers were taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer. The doctors attending on them said condition of a few was critical.
The district administration has issued an appeal for information to the kin of the victims to ascertain their identity. The bodies will be handed over to family members after DNA matching, officials said.
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. “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,” PM Modi was quoted as saying in an X post by the PMO.
“An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” he said.
