Death toll in Jaisalmer bus fire rises to 21, PM announces 2 lakh compensation

The death toll in the Jaisalmer bus fire tragedy has risen to 21 after a 10-year-old child, Yunus, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. Four others remain on ventilators at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur. The horrific incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a private AC sleeper bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Amarsagar.

Late on Tuesday night, the first FIR was registered at Sadar police station in Jaisalmer. The complaint was filed by the brother of journalist Rajendra Chauhan, one of the victims, against the bus owner and driver for negligence leading to the deaths. The army assisted in recovering all bodies from the charred bus by late evening.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. While initial reports point to a short circuit or a burst AC compressor, locals alleged that firecrackers in the luggage compartment may have sparked the blaze. The explosion at the rear of the vehicle caused the fire to spread rapidly, trapping several passengers inside due to the single exit door.

The Prime Minister’s Relief Fund announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, visiting the site, said the explosion was so intense that some bodies were burnt beyond recognition.