The devastating bus fire that claimed 26 lives on the Jaisalmer Highway on October 14 was caused by a short circuit in the air-conditioner’s faulty wiring, a forensic report has revealed. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams from Jaipur and Jodhpur, which inspected the site a day after the incident, concluded that the tragedy was entirely preventable and resulted from gross negligence in safety management.

According to the report, the fire started on the bus’s roof, where the AC unit was directly connected to the engine. Sparks from the connection ignited the wiring, causing flames that rapidly consumed the vehicle. “The report clearly indicates that the fire originated from the AC wiring and spread due to lack of proper safety measures. It was a preventable tragedy caused by negligence,” said Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare.

The investigation determined that carbon monoxide and suffocating smoke quickly filled the cabin, causing many passengers to lose consciousness. Some occupants attempted to break windows to escape, but the sudden inflow of outside air intensified the blaze, engulfing the bus in seconds. Despite the fire’s intensity, the vehicle’s fuel tank, tires, and underbody remained undamaged, confirming that the flames did not originate below the chassis.

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The FSL ruling also dispelled initial rumors of an explosion. Firecrackers found in the luggage compartment were waterlogged and intact. However, the findings point to multiple violations — including unsafe AC wiring and non–fire-resistant materials used in the bus’s construction. Officials said the transport department had previously inspected the site to ensure regulatory compliance after the tragedy.

Police have since arrested the bus owner, driver, and Manish Jain, owner of the workshop that built the bus body, for gross negligence and safety violations. The authorities are now reviewing broader safety standards for private sleeper buses operating across Rajasthan to prevent another such horrific incident.

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