Jaisalmer Additional Superintendent of Police Kailash Dan Jugtawat said its still unclear what caused the fire.
(PTI )
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When bus conductor Rafiq Khan spotted flames inside his AC sleeper bus in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer Tuesday evening, he acted quickly. He pushed open the doors, letting out as many passengers as he could. Then he saw the roof catch fire and moved faster.
He was among 15 people who suffered burns and is being treated at Jodhpur’s Dr S. N. Medical College after their bus burst into flames near Thaiyat village, around 20 km from the city. Twenty people were killed in the incident.
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“He [Rafiq] was checking tickets near the last seats when smoke started to billow inside. He moved forward to open the main door,” his brother Irfan told the media. “As he reached the middle of the bus, flames erupted from the roof and there was an explosion. He was injured and fell. In his scorched state, he crawled to the main gate, opened it, and pulled several people out.”
Officials said the bus, heading to Jodhpur, had around 50 passengers. While the cause of the fire is still unclear, initial reports suggest it began at the rear of the bus and spread quickly. Locals helped in the rescue.
Jaisalmer Additional Superintendent of Police Kailash Dan Jugtawat said its still unclear what caused the fire.
“The exact reason of the death will be cleared after the FSL report is submitted. We found 19 bodies inside the vehicle and others were referred to the hospital. One person died while being taken to Jodhpur. Since the bus doors and windows were closed and there was no way of getting out of the vehicle, some passengers died from suffocation.”
Patients were first taken to Jaisalmer and later referred to Jodhpur’s Dr S. N. Medical College. “We received 15 patients around 9 p.m. from Jaisalmer. Five are on ventilators as they have more than 70 percent burns,” said Dr B. S. Jodha, principal of the college. “Others have 40–50% burns. Three were immediately put on ventilators.”
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Officials said the dead are yet to be identified. Ten bodies are at S. N. Medical College and the rest at AIIMS, Jodhpur, with police working to identify them. Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh said a helpline has been set up for affected families.
Eyewitnesses said several passengers jumped off the bus to escape, but many couldn’t. Peer Mohammed said he managed to push out his wife, sister-in-law and one child after breaking a window — but couldn’t save his two children sleeping on the top berth.
“By then, the flames were so intense I couldn’t save them. I survived, but they were burned alive,” he told the media.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who visited Jaisalmer to review relief efforts, posted on X: “The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is extremely heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the people affected. Instructions have been given to ensure proper treatment for the injured and all possible assistance to those affected.”
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
