Jaisalmer-Jodhpur bus fire: Jammed door traps passengers; 20 killed, 15 critically injured

At least 20 passengers were burnt alive, and 15 others sustained critical burn injuries after a private bus bound for Jodhpur caught fire barely 10 minutes after it left Jaisalmer on Tuesday afternoon, October 14, 2025.

Police said the fire caused the bus door to get locked, preventing passengers from escaping, with Kailash Dan, Additional SP, Jaisalmer, saying the jammed door was the main reason for the high casualties. "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 PTI. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site, reviewed the rescue and medical response, and called the incident "deeply tragic".

The bus caught fire near the Army War Memorial; Army personnel reached the site quickly and joined the rescue operations. 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. The door had to be pried open, while a few passengers managed to escape by breaking windows.

Water from a passing tanker was also used to control the blaze. Jaisalmer SP Abhishek Shivhare said 19 charred bodies were recovered and 16 critically injured were rushed to hospital in Jodhpur; one passenger died on the way to Jodhpur. The bodies were sent to Jodhpur for DNA sampling and identification. They will be handed over to families after matching is confirmed by the Forensic Science Laboratory.

Police officials said that the number of people inside the bus at the time of the incident is being verified.