At least 20 dead in bus fire on highway in India after stuck door trapped many passengers, police say

At least 20 people were killed when a bus caught fire on a highway in western India, police said.

The bus, with 57 passengers on board, was traveling from the resort towns of Jaisalmer to Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan when smoke began coming out of the back of the bus.

Although the driver stopped the bus and asked passengers to get off, the fire started quickly, with many passengers inside.

At least 15 other passengers were taken to a hospital with burns. Among the injured are four women and two children.

Police suspect a short circuit may have caused the fire, Indian broadcaster NDTV reported.

Police also suspect that a jammed door could have been the reason for the high number of deaths.

Jaisalmer Additional Superintendent of Police Kailash Dan said the fire caused the bus door to close, preventing passengers from escaping.

“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,” he told Indian news agency PTI.

Indian media broadcast images of the burning bus and, later, of bodies lined up next to the charred vehicle, which was reportedly new and purchased just a few days ago, according to NDTV.

Locals and passersby helped the authorities in the rescue efforts.

Jaisalmer district collector Pratap Singh told reporters that many bodies were charred beyond recognition. Forensic and DNA teams are assisting in the identification of the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “distressed by the loss of life” and offered his condolences to the families of the victims in a post on X.

He also announced compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,253) for the families of the dead and 50,000 rupees ($563) for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

In:

• India
• bus fire