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20 killed as passenger bus catches fire in India
At least 20 people were burned to death when a passenger bus caught fire in northern India’s Rajasthan state on Tuesday, reportedly due to a short circuit, officials said.
The bus, carrying between 35 and 50 passengers, had just begun its journey from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur when flames suddenly erupted, said Mahant Pratap Puri, a local lawmaker from the ruling party.
“Passengers didn’t get time to deboard the bus as the fire spread quickly,” Puri told The Associated Press.
Authorities recovered 19 bodies from the vehicle, while another passenger died on the way to hospital. At least 15 others sustained critical burn injuries and were admitted to a local hospital.
The blaze reportedly started about five minutes after the bus left Jaisalmer, when smoke began rising from the rear. The driver stopped the vehicle near a military station, but the fire rapidly engulfed the bus.
“It was a new bus with a full load of air-conditioning gas and only one entry-exit door. Sadly, those seated at the back couldn’t escape and were burnt alive,” Puri said.
Local officials and military personnel rushed to the scene to conduct rescue operations. The Rajasthan government has appealed to families for help identifying victims, with DNA tests planned where necessary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, reports UNB.