Jaisalmer bus fire: driver, owner arrested; SIT probes cause
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Jaipur: Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested the driver, Shaukat, and the owner, Turab Ali, of the private AC sleeper bus involved in the Jaisalmer fire that claimed 22 lives and injured several others. Both were initially detained for questioning on Wednesday night, with their arrests confirmed following police interrogations.
Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare said the arrests followed complaints filed by relatives of the deceased: Chandan Singh, brother of Rajendra Singh Chauhan, and Jagdish, brother of Gopilal Darji.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to conduct a thorough probe into all aspects of the incident. The SIT, led by Jaisalmer Assistant Superintendent of Police Kailashdan Jugtawat, includes Deputy Roop Singh Inda, Nachana SHO Butaram, Sadar SHO Surjaram, and ASI Rajendra Kumar.
The SIT will investigate the bus fire’s cause, possible technical faults, the driver’s conduct, and any criminal negligence. Officials are also examining the bus’s speed, condition, and compliance with safety standards at the time of the accident. SP Shivhare noted that the final report will take time due to multiple elements under scrutiny, including details from the bus manufacturer in Chittorgarh, victims’ statements, forensic reports, and technical evidence.
Preliminary findings indicate that 35 passengers were aboard the bus when the fire broke out on October 14 around 3:30 p.m., en route from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur. Nineteen people died on the spot, and three more succumbed later, raising the death toll to 22. Thirteen passengers sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in Jodhpur, with five still on ventilators. DNA samples from 18 of the 19 recovered bodies have been obtained, with one pending confirmation.
Two FIRs have been registered so far, and further legal action will depend on the SIT’s findings, which will determine whether human error or mechanical failure caused the tragedy.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced compensation for the victims’ families: Rs 25 lakh for families losing three or more members, Rs 10 lakh per deceased for one or two deaths, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured individuals, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
Meanwhile, families of the victims staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur, demanding higher compensation and refusing to accept the bodies of the deceased.
The devastating bus fire has prompted authorities to launch an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future.
With IANS inputs