Centre announces ex-gratia for kin of victims killed in Jaisalmer bus fire 

JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance to the families of the victims killed in the fire in an AC bus in Rajasthan. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The accident happened Tuesday afternoon. The bus which caught fire was going from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur.

There was 57 passengers in the bus and 20 were burnt alive in the tragedy. 16 seriously injured are undergoing treatment. Smoke was emanating from the bus as soon as it left Jaisalmer and covering about 20 km. Seeing the smoke, the driver stopped the vehicle. Within seconds, the fire broke out and engulfed the vehicle. The villagers and passengers of other vehicles initially carried out the rescue operations. The bus was completely burnt to ashes. It is believed that a short circuit was the cause of the accident.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the site. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister expressed grief over the loss of lives. Chief Minister wrote on X that the incident was heartbreaking. ‘The authorities have been directed to provide proper treatment to the injured. The state government will be with the families of the deceased. We will provide them with all possible support,' said the chief minister.

Meantime, the authorities have announced that a detailed investigation will be conducted into the tragedy. Steps have also been taken to conduct DNA tests on the dead.