In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a man in Rajasthan is grappling with the devastating loss of his three grandchildren, who were among the 20 people killed in a bus fire near Jaisalmer on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a private bus, en route from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, caught fire near Thaiyat village, approximately 10 kilometers outside of Jaisalmer. The cause of the inferno is suspected to be a short circuit in the bus's air conditioning system, which triggered a gas leak.
The bus, carrying 57 passengers, was engulfed in flames within moments, trapping many inside. According to Jaisalmer Additional Superintendent of Police Kailash Dan, the fire caused the bus door to lock, preventing passengers from escaping. "Most of the bodies were found in the aisle of the bus, which shows that people tried to escape but couldn't because the door was stuck," he told Indian news agency PTI.
The scene was one of utter devastation, with the bus reduced to a charred shell and bodies lined up beside the wreckage. Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition, necessitating forensic examination and DNA sampling for identification. As of now, authorities have identified the bodies of Rajendra Singh Chauhan, Hasina, Irfan, Barkat Khan, Gopilal, Ayub Khan, and Nasira.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with local villagers, police, and military personnel joining forces to assist. Injured passengers, many suffering from severe burns, were rushed to hospitals in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. Victims suffered burns up to 70%, and the gravely injured were sent to Jodhpur for advanced medical care.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the nation, drawing condemnation and expressions of grief from top leaders. President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
The incident has also raised serious questions about bus safety standards, as the vehicle involved had recently been converted from a non-AC to an AC bus just a week prior to the tragedy. According to survivors and officials, the blaze began when the bus reached near the Jaisalmer Army station. The vehicle, operated by Jodhpur-based KK Travels, had departed from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur at its scheduled time of 3 PM.
The district administration has established helpline numbers to support the affected families, and forensic and DNA teams are working diligently to identify the remaining victims. The incident is a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures and regular maintenance checks to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the focus remains on providing support to the grieving families and ensuring that the injured receive the best possible medical care. The man who lost his three grandchildren now faces the unimaginable task of mourning their loss, a poignant reminder of the human cost of this devastating incident.
