Tragedy struck on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway when an AC sleeper bus, carrying 57 passengers, caught fire on Tuesday afternoon. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals and left 15 others injured.
A day after the horrific event, authorities revealed a critical detail from the investigation: a jammed exit door trapped passengers as they desperately tried to flee the inferno. “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,” Additional Superintendent of Police, Jaisalmer, Kailash Dan, stated, according to a news agency.
Rescue efforts were hampered, with Army personnel needing to force the door open. Some passengers, however, managed to escape by breaking windows, and assistance from a passing tanker’s water was utilized to combat the blaze. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the bus’s departure point and its route as part of the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, families of the victims are grappling with grief and frustration. Despite assurances of swift DNA sampling and identification for the deceased, relatives have reported delays and a lack of medical staff. One victim’s brother expressed his distress over the perceived lack of support and the slow process, questioning the responsiveness of authorities.