The horrific bus fire near Jaisalmer, which claimed numerous lives, was largely exacerbated by a jammed door on the AC sleeper coach, police confirmed on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma described the incident as ‘deeply tragic’ while reviewing the ongoing rescue and medical operations.
Tragically, 20 passengers perished in the inferno, and 15 others suffered critical burn injuries when the private bus, en route to Jodhpur, burst into flames just ten minutes after departing Jaisalmer on Tuesday afternoon, October 14, 2025.
Jaisalmer’s Additional SP, Kailash Dan, explained that the intensity of the fire caused the bus door to lock, effectively trapping passengers inside.
He further noted to PTI, ‘A majority of the bodies were discovered in the bus aisle, indicating that victims frantically attempted to escape but were thwarted by the immovable door.’
The fire erupted near the Army War Memorial, prompting swift action from nearby Army personnel who immediately joined rescue efforts. The main door required force to open, while some fortunate passengers managed to break windows to escape the raging flames. A passing water tanker also played a crucial role in bringing the inferno under control.
Jaisalmer SP Abhishek Shivhare confirmed the recovery of 19 charred bodies from the bus, and 16 critically injured individuals were urgently transported to a Jodhpur hospital.
Sadly, one of the injured succumbed to their injuries en route to Jodhpur.
He added that the remains have been sent to Jodhpur for DNA sampling and identification, and will only be released to their families once Forensic Science Laboratory confirmation is complete.
Authorities are actively working to verify the exact number of occupants on the bus at the time of the tragedy.
The Additional SP stated, ‘Currently, 20 fatalities and 15 injured are confirmed. While no missing persons reports have surfaced, we are meticulously cross-referencing passenger manifests and examining CCTV footage from the departure point and along the route to ascertain the precise number of individuals onboard.’
Forensics teams have been tirelessly investigating the accident site since Tuesday night.
While initial findings point towards a short circuit as the cause, other possibilities, including the presence of firecrackers on the bus, are also under active investigation.
Upon receiving news of the disaster on Tuesday evening, October 14, 2025, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma immediately adjourned a scheduled meeting in Jaipur to personally coordinate with ground officials and oversee the response.
During a high-level meeting with Ministers Kirori Lal Meena, Gautam Dak, and other senior officials, CM Sharma announced his immediate departure for Jaisalmer, citing the extreme gravity of the situation.
An official reported that the Chief Minister ordered the immediate establishment of a ‘green corridor’ to ensure the rapid and uninterrupted transfer of injured victims from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur for advanced medical care.
Arriving in Jaisalmer that night, Mr. Sharma personally inspected the accident site and publicly commended the invaluable rescue and relief efforts undertaken by the Indian Army and local civilians.
Subsequently, the Chief Minister traveled to Jodhpur to meet with the grieving families of the victims. He issued strict instructions to medical staff to ensure the highest quality of care for the injured, meticulously reviewing the burn unit’s critical care resources, including ventilators, oxygen supplies, ICU beds, and vital medications.
To guarantee continuous support, a specialized medical monitoring team has been stationed in Jodhpur, while Mr. Sharma also mandated that victims’ families receive comprehensive assistance, including accommodation, meals, and other essential support, directly within the hospital compound.
In both Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, he engaged with local legislators, party members, and administrative officials, urging their full cooperation in relief activities. Additionally, he assigned Cabinet Minister Madan Dilawar to remain in Jodhpur to personally supervise the ongoing response.
Rescue workers vividly described the bus as a ‘fireball,’ leaving passengers virtually no time to react. Astonishingly, this was a newly registered vehicle, undertaking only its fourth journey. It had departed Jaisalmer around 3 p.m., with plans to collect more passengers further along its route.
According to eyewitness accounts relayed by a police officer, a loud blast from the bus’s rear, suspected to be the AC compressor, preceded the fire. The flames were then rapidly intensified by diesel fuel, AC gas, and the bus’s highly flammable fibre interiors.
Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar lamented, ‘The bus had only one door, which became jammed, preventing most passengers from escaping. While the Army managed to recover some bodies, many were tragically incinerated beyond recognition.’
Preliminary investigations have shockingly revealed that the bus lacked crucial safety features such as an emergency exit and window hammers. Its narrow aisle further compounded the danger, trapping passengers. The fire, which likely started in the wiring, also triggered an automatic door-lock system, completely sealing off any means of escape.
Disturbingly, multiple bodies were found tragically piled upon one another within the burned-out wreckage.
Among the injured are two children and four women, with some victims suffering severe burns up to 70% of their bodies. All were initially rushed to a government hospital in Jaisalmer before being transferred to Jodhpur for specialized care.
Jaisalmer District Collector Pratap Singh Nathawat confirmed that rescue operations were launched without delay, stating, ‘All 19 recovered bodies have been transported to Jodhpur for DNA-based identification.’