A late-night fire at a luxury tent resort in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, caused significant damage and panic among tourists, though no casualties were reported. The blaze rapidly consumed five luxury tents. Resort staff and guests attempted to combat the flames with sand as fire services arrived late to the scene.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire was so intense it was visible from a considerable distance. According to a police officer, Bagdu Ram, the fire started around 9 PM at the Jain Resort during a cultural program. Strong desert winds fanned the flames, quickly spreading them to adjacent tents, and it took approximately 30 minutes to bring the situation under control.
The fire destroyed expensive furnishings and electrical equipment, and many guests lost personal belongings. Tourists from Maharashtra who were staying at the resort were relocated to other accommodations after the fire was extinguished.
Local residents have voiced strong criticism, accusing district and municipal authorities of negligence. They claim that fire services were not readily available despite the area’s known vulnerability to fire incidents. Officer Ram noted that a fire tender is usually stationed near the resort during the peak tourist season, but it was absent at the time of the incident. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
The affected resorts in the area frequently host cultural performances. The fire occurred at a time when most tourists were away from their tents, which likely prevented a more serious tragedy. Jaisalmer is known for its tent cities, with resorts typically offering between 20 to 100 tents, catering to a large number of domestic and international visitors from Diwali until January.
This incident follows a separate tragedy on October 14, where a sleeper bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway, resulting in at least 28 fatalities.