20 killed as passenger bus catches fire in Rajasthan

At least 20 people were killed and 15 others injured when a passenger bus caught fire in northern India on Tuesday, officials said.

The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, erupted just minutes after the bus departed Jaisalmer en route to Jodhpur. The vehicle was carrying between 35 and 50 passengers.

“Passengers didn’t get time to deboard as the fire spread rapidly,” said local lawmaker Mahant Pratap Puri, who was at the scene.

Authorities recovered 19 bodies from the bus. One more victim died on the way to the hospital. Several others sustained critical injuries and are being treated at local hospitals.

Smoke reportedly appeared from the rear of the bus only five minutes after departure. The driver managed to stop the vehicle near a military station, but the flames quickly engulfed it.

“It was a new bus, fully air-conditioned, with only one entry and exit door. Passengers seated at the rear could not escape,” Puri added.

The local government has called on relatives to confirm the identities of the victims and plans to use DNA testing for identification.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed their condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.