When the call came at 4:00 pm Tuesday with news that the AC sleeper bus Rajendra Singh Chauhan was travelling in had burst into flames, his family’s first reaction was denial. After all, Rajendra was a robust 50-year-old journalist, and the trip to Pokhran for the inauguration of a friend’s dental clinic was meant to be brief.
But after spending all of Wednesday searching for him among the injured at Jodhpur’s Dr S. N. Medical College, the family began to accept that Rajendra was among the 21 who died when the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer bus caught fire.
The incident occurred near Thaiyat village, about 20 km from Jaisalmer. Of the 40 passengers, 15 were injured — four critically. Officials said it is still unclear what caused the fire, though eyewitnesses said it began at the rear of the bus and spread quickly.
“We were told Rajendra died on the spot,” his cousin Umeda Tanwar told The Indian Express. “We got to know through other survivors that there was smoke in the bus. First thought was that someone was smoking. But soon, there was a blast and fire everywhere. He was supposed to take the morning bus back home.”
Rajendra leaves behind a wife and two children. The family is now awaiting DNA confirmation to take him home. His travelling companion and friend, Manoj Bhatia, secretary of the Jaisalmer Dental Association, survived with 40 percent burns.
While some passengers managed to jump out, 19 others, like Rajendra, died — either from burns or asphyxiation. Two more succumbed later, one on Wednesday morning. Locals helped in the rescue.
“The exact reason for the fire will be known after the FSL report,” said Jaisalmer Additional SP Kailash Dan Jugtawat. “Since the bus doors and windows were closed, there was no way to get out.”
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The bus was registered in Chittorgarh. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who visited the site Wednesday, has ordered inspection of all state buses. Two transport officials — Chittorgarh DTO Surendra Singh Gehlot and Transport Office’s Chunnilal — have been suspended.
“The incident of a bus catching fire in Jaisalmer is extremely heart-wrenching,” the CM posted on X. “I express my deepest condolences to the people affected. Instructions have been given to ensure proper treatment for the injured and all possible assistance.”
The bodies are at S. N. Medical College and AIIMS, Jodhpur, with police awaiting DNA reports to confirm identities. Some victims were burned beyond recognition. Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh said a helpline had been set up for families.
At SN Medical College, four of the wounded are on ventilator support. “We received 15 patients around 9 pm Tuesday. One died Wednesday morning while four are on ventilators with more than 70 percent burns,” said Dr B. S. Jodha, the college principal.
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Bus conductor Rafiq Khan, who was among the injured, was checking tickets when he noticed smoke. Though burned himself, he helped several passengers escape.
His brother Irfan told the media: “He moved forward to open the main door. As he reached the middle of the bus, flames erupted from the roof and there was an explosion. He was injured and fell back. In his scorched state, he crawled to the main gate, opened it, and pulled several people out.”
In Jaisalmer, Peer Mohammed is devastated. He managed to push out his wife, sister-in-law, and one child after breaking a window — but couldn’t save his two children sleeping on the top berth.
“By then, the flames were so intense I couldn’t save them. I survived, but they were burned alive,” he said.
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Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) leader Hanuman Beniwal criticised the state government for not airlifting the injured. “I want to ask Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma, if a helicopter was arranged to airlift BJP state president Shri Madan Rathore’s wife from Pali to Jaipur, why weren’t the severely burned victims of the Jaisalmer bus fire airlifted to Jodhpur or Jaipur? This shows clear insensitivity from both leaders,” he said.
