Rajasthan fire tragedy: Bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur catches fire (Picture credit: PTI)
NEW DELHI: A private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village on Tuesday afternoon, injuring 10 and resulting in casualties too. According to news agency PTI, the bus was carrying 57 passengers when it departed from Jaisalmer.The additional SP of Jaisalmer, Kailash Dhan, confirmed that the injured have been rushed to Jawahir Hospital and rescue operations are ongoing.”The moving bus burst into flames. Casualties have been reported. The injured have been rushed to the hospital. Rescue operation continues,” the official said, as quoted by news agency ANI. According to authorities, the bus departed from Jaisalmer around 3 pm as per its daily schedule. While en route, smoke was seen emanating from the rear part of the vehicle, and within moments, the entire bus was engulfed in flames. Villagers and passersby rushed to assist, and the fire department and police were alerted immediately. The cause of the fire is yet unknown, officials said.CM Bhajanlal Sharma, in a post on X, expressed his condolences, stating, “The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is deeply heart-wrenching. I express my profound condolences to the citizens affected by this tragic accident. Instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and to provide all possible assistance to those affected. May Lord Shri Ram grant a place at His divine feet to the departed souls. The state government stands with the affected families and is committed to providing them with every possible support” BJP Rajasthan President Madan Rathore also expressed grief over the incident, calling it “extremely painful and unbearable.” He added, “The incident is not merely an accident but a calamity that has devastated many families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and for peace to the departed souls.” Rathore noted that the chief minister immediately directed officials to expedite rescue and relief efforts and assured that the government would provide all necessary assistance to the victims and their families.