At least 20 people were killed and around 15 others seriously injured after a moving air-conditioned bus caught fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur highway in Rajasthan on Tuesday afternoon.  The bus, carrying 57 passengers, had departed from Jaisalmer at about 3 PM when smoke was first seen from its rear section.  The driver halted the vehicle near Thaiyat village, but the fire rapidly engulfed the bus, leaving many passengers unable to escape.

Lawmakers and officials suggested a short circuit in the air conditioner or battery area may have triggered the blaze, possibly aggravated by gas in the cooling system.  The bus reportedly had only a single exit door, which trapped several passengers in the burning vehicle.  Many charred bodies remain stuck within the wreckage, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief at the tragedy.  The central government announced ₹2 lakh ex gratia aid for each of the deceased families and ₹50,000 for those injured.  Emergency rescue operations have been launched, with DNA teams called to assist identification, and helplines set up for families of missing persons.