JAIPUR: At least eight people were killed and over 20 others injured after a passenger bus rammed into a trailer and caught fire on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district in the early hours of Wednesday.
The accident occurred around 3:30 am when the bus, carrying nearly 37 passengers, was travelling from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand to Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
According to preliminary findings, the driver allegedly lost control of the bus before it hit a trailer moving ahead. The impact triggered a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes, trapping several passengers inside.
Eyewitnesses said most passengers were asleep at the time, and the rear portion of the bus caught fire first, leading to panic and chaos. The force of the impact reportedly threw passengers from the upper berths, causing serious injuries.
The bus was operated by Hans Travels of Indore, police said.
Police and emergency teams rushed to the spot soon after being alerted and carried out rescue operations. The injured were shifted to the district hospital, where eight passengers were declared dead. Around 20 others are undergoing treatment, while one critically injured passenger has been referred to Jaipur for advanced care.
Officials said six victims died due to burn injuries, while two others succumbed to head injuries sustained in the crash.
Dausa SP Piyush Dixit and District Collector Saumya Jha visited the accident site and supervised rescue and relief operations. The Collector said preliminary assessment indicates the driver lost control before the collision, which led to the fire.
Authorities have issued a helpline for relatives of passengers, while efforts are underway to identify the deceased. Most passengers are believed to be from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Congress MP Murari Lal Meena said after visiting the site.
Police have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the accident.
