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At least 20 people lost their lives after a bus caught fire on Tuesday in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, local authorities and media outlets reported.
The bus, carrying more than 50 passengers, was en route from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when smoke was seen emerging from the rear, prompting the driver to stop along the highway. However, the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames.
“Nineteen passengers died on the spot, and one more succumbed to burn injuries on the way to Jodhpur,” senior police officer Rajesh Meena told AFP. The Press Trust of India, citing a local legislator, corroborated the death toll.
Reports from NDTV, quoting unnamed police officials, suggested that a short circuit could have triggered the fire, though AFP could not immediately verify this claim. The bus had departed Jaisalmer at around 3:00 pm (0930 GMT).
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragedy, saying he was “distressed by the loss of lives” and was “praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” He announced that families of the deceased would receive 200,000 rupees ($2,252.5) from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while the injured would each be given 50,000 rupees.
India has a challenging road safety record. In 2023, over 480,000 road accidents were reported nationwide, resulting in nearly 173,000 fatalities and approximately 463,000 injuries.
