At least eight individuals lost their lives, and 21 others sustained injuries in a tragic incident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district. The catastrophe unfolded when a sleeper bus collided with a trailer and subsequently caught fire early Wednesday morning. Among the casualties, six people were reportedly burnt alive, while two succumbed to head injuries from the collision.
The collision occurred near Zero Point in the Tanawad area under Kolwa police station limits around 2:30 a.m. The bus, en route from Rishikesh to Indore, crashed into a speeding trailer, leading to a massive fire that rapidly engulfed both vehicles. Rescue operations were hindered by the intense flames, trapping numerous passengers inside the sleeper coach.
Dausa Superintendent of Police Piyush Dixit revealed that 21 injured passengers, including children, were rushed to Dausa District Hospital for treatment of burn injuries and trauma. Initial investigations suggest that the bus driver might have fallen asleep before the accident, although authorities are still probing the exact cause of the collision and subsequent fire.
Survivors and locals alleged delays in emergency response, with villagers initiating rescue efforts before official teams arrived. Reports indicated that the fire brigade reached the scene late, after the bus had already been consumed by flames and several passengers had tragically perished. Both the sleeper bus and the trailer were completely destroyed in the blaze, leading to a temporary suspension of traffic on the expressway.
Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, the fire’s origin, and claims regarding the contents of the bus’s cargo. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot extended condolences to the affected families, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic incident and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
