TL;DR : A newly bought AC sleeper bus caught fire near Jaisalmer on October 14, 2025, killing 20 people and injuring 16. The fire started due to a suspected short circuit. Many victims were trapped as exits got blocked. Rescue and relief efforts followed, with DNA tests underway to identify the dead.
🔥 What Happened
- A private air-conditioned sleeper bus (registration RJ 09PA8040, operated by KK Travels) caught fire on October 14, 2025, near Thaiyat village, around 10 km from Jaisalmer on NH-125.
- The bus had 57 passengers and was traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, departing around 3:00 PM.
- 20 people died, including 3 children and several women; 16 others were seriously injured, some with burns covering up to 70% of their bodies.
- The fire started at the rear of the bus, reportedly due to a short circuit in the AC system; flames spread rapidly, blocking exits and jamming doors.
- No fire extinguishers were available, and flammable interior materials accelerated the fire.
🛠️ Rescue & Recovery Efforts
- Passersby, villagers, fire tenders, police, and Army personnel attempted rescue, but extreme heat delayed operations; the bus’s metal remained red-hot for ~4 hours.
- 19 bodies were recovered from the charred bus; one victim died en route to the hospital.
- Injured passengers were first treated at Jawahar Hospital (Jaisalmer) and then referred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital (15 patients) and Sri Ram Hospital (1 patient) in Jodhpur.
- A green corridor was created on NH-125 to transfer patients quickly.
🧬 Identification & Investigation
- Many victims were burned beyond recognition; DNA testing began on October 15 for identification.
- The bus was only five days old and recently converted to an AC sleeper; investigations point to possible safety violations and poor modifications.
- Authorities cited design flaws (flammable interiors, faulty exits) and lack of fire safety equipment as key risk factors.
- Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered a statewide audit of private buses with AC conversions and emergency exit compliance.
💬 Official Statements & Compensation
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:
- CM Bhajan Lal Sharma canceled all engagements, visited the site and hospitals, and announced ₹5 lakh state compensation per deceased family, free medical treatment, and job assistance to affected kin.
- Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also expressed condolences.
"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."
He announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each deceased’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured (PMNRF).
☎️ Helplines
- Jaisalmer: 9460886923, 9414963875
- Jodhpur: 9414054442, 9414977773