Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Tuesday following a tragic incident in which a private bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire. According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI), the fire resulted in the deaths of 20 passengers, with 16 others suffering critical injuries.
In a post shared on the social media platform X by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi stated, “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The Prime Minister announced that an ex gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased passenger, while those injured would receive ₹50,000.
Authorities reported that the bus, carrying 57 passengers, left Jaisalmer around 3 PM. As the vehicle traveled along the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway, smoke was observed emanating from the rear. The driver managed to pull over to the side of the road, but the bus was quickly engulfed in flames shortly thereafter.
