A tragic incident occurred near Thaiyat village, approximately 10 kilometers from Jaisalmer city, when a bus caught fire, trapping passengers inside and blocking exits. The bus, operated by the Jodhpur-based KK pilgrimage, was en route from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, having departed at its scheduled time of 3 PM. Survivors and officials reported that the fire ignited near the Jaisalmer Army Station. Investigators suspect that a malfunction in the recently installed air conditioning system led to a gas explosion at the rear of the vehicle. The flames quickly spread through the seat cushions and curtains, leaving passengers in the back with no escape route.
Pokhran MP Pratap Puri confirmed the likely cause, detailing how the fire transformed the bus into a horrific trap within minutes. Nineteen charred bodies were recovered from the bus, and sixteen injured individuals were initially treated at Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer before being transferred to Jodhpur for further care. Among them, 75-year-old Hussain Khan succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Six of the deceased were from Jodhpur, while the rest were from Jaisalmer. Officials have identified several victims, including Mahipal Singh (50), Olaram (45), Yunus (8), Manoj Bhatia (45), Iqbal (52), Firoz (40), Baga Bai (54), Pir Mohammed (60), Jeevraj (15), Imamat (60), Vishakha (24), Ashish (26), Rafiq (79), Lakshman (35), and Ubaidullah (48).
Family members recalled how the fire spread rapidly, engulfing the front of the bus before anyone could react, making escape nearly impossible due to the combination of flames, burning curtains, and seat cushions.
