Instagram recently introduced its one-time ‘Instants’ photo-sharing feature that allows people to send images right to their friends or close friends’ inboxes. The feature appears to be a way to encourage users to send short-term, spontaneous shots to their close contacts via messages
A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak is scheduled to arrive in the port city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Monday morning (May 18, 2026). The MV Hondius has spent the past six days sailing from the Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers were escorted off the vessel by
Malaysia said on Monday (May 18, 2026) it had ended a search for passengers of a migrant boat from Indonesia that sank off the country's western coast last week after the bodies of all 16 missing were recovered. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Perak state said 23 people were
Quote of the day by Bella Hadid: ‘I can’t wait to be a mom, I think that would make me truly happy’When Bella Hadid got candid on her vision for the future, family, and being an auntie to Khai, sister Gigi Hadid's daughter. Read her exact quote on motherhood. Published on: May 18
Dark mode vs light mode: Ophthalmologist explains when you should toggle which mode on phone for lower vision stressInstead of aesthetic purpose, medically approach the display modes on your phone to lower visual stress. Updated on: May 18, 2026 5:17 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link Your
'People Were Burning, But We Couldn’t…': Locals Recall Rajasthan Bus Blaze
‘People Were Burning Inside, But We Couldn’t Reach Them’: Eyewitnesses Recall Children, Elders Trapped In Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Bus Blaze
Jaipur (Rajasthan): A deadly fire engulfed a moving AC sleeper bus on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway on Tuesday afternoon, trapping passengers inside when the door automatically locked. Smoke and flames spread quickly, forcing many to break windows to escape. Rescue efforts were delayed for nearly 50 minutes until the Army arrived with a JCB to break the gate and evacuate survivors.
Kastur Singh, a local liquor shop owner from Thiyat village and one of the first at the scene, described the horror. “I saw 16 people being pulled out of the bus, while others inside had already died. The victims ranged from an eight-year-old child to a 79-year-old,” he said.
The incident occurred around 3:30 pm on Tuesday when the bus, carrying 57 passengers, caught fire. Flames spread rapidly, prompting passengers to jump from the moving bus. Tragically, 20 people died in the blaze.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
The injured were initially taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer before being referred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and Mathuradas Mathur Hospital in Jodhpur for further treatment.
Singh recalled the rescue attempts. “The fire was so intense that we could barely get close. A water tanker arrived, and we ran alongside it toward the bus, but we still could not save everyone.”
Once informed, the Army arrived with a JCB to break the locked gate, while efforts continued to douse the flames. Singh added that despite calling the fire brigade, no assistance arrived for 45 minutes as Jaisalmer is roughly 9 km from the site.
“Only 16 people were pulled out. Around 40 others were still inside when the bus burned,” Singh said.
Families of the victims remain in shock. Allahbaksh, whose relatives were on the bus, said, “We do not know how many people were on the bus or what exactly happened. We heard many burned alive. The bus was taken to the military camp, but we have not been told anything.”
Operated by KK Travels, the bus had been recently modified into an AC sleeper and had been in service on this route for five days. The fire reportedly began due to a short circuit in the AC unit. The bus was fully packed, with some passengers even resting in the upper gallery.
The bus's fiber body and curtains contributed to the rapid spread of fire. With fully glass windows and only one exit, passengers became trapped when the wiring caught fire and the door locked. The driver and conductor escaped first. Witnesses also noted the absence of fire safety equipment on the bus.
A 275-km green corridor was established to rush 16 severely burned passengers to Jodhpur. One elderly passenger died en route, while most survivours suffered burns covering up to 70% of their bodies.
A survivor recalled, “The driver drove the burning bus for 800 metres. Many mothers like me were crying, screaming for help.”
Military officers are coordinating with families to locate and assist them.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited Mahatma Gandhi Hospital around 11:15 PM. Medical teams and officials coordinated care, while injured passengers from private hospitals were shifted to ensure proper treatment.
The police cleared the highway for ambulances, and six ambulances were stationed at the hospital for emergency care.
According to eyewitnesses, ambulances brought victims in batches, including children and young adults.
Following theincident, FSL experts were dispatched to the accident site for investigation. Trauma and ICU wards at Jodhpur hospitals were cleared in preparation.
Officials believe the AC compressor, combined with diesel and gas, caused the rapid blaze. The bus had only one exit, trapping passengers in the sleeper section.
Forensic DNA tests are planned to identify charred bodies.
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Canadian vlogger shares experience of overnight journey on Indian sleeper bus Delhi engulfed in ‘not very common’ fog in March Delhi-NCR Engulfed In Dense Smog With Almost Zero Visibility Actor Kartik Aaryan Meets Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma In Jaipur Rajasthan Royals to commence pre-season training camp in Jaipur on March 17 Jaipur hospital fire 8 patients killed after massive fire at SMS Hospital's ICU in Jaipur Six Dead In Jaipur's SMS Hospital ICU Fire Short circuit ignited fire in Jaipur's SMS Hospital ICU Jaipur’s SMS Hospital fire
IU, Byeon Woo-seok apologise after 'Perfect Crown' faces criticism for historical inaccuraciesIU, Byeon Woo-seok apologise after 'Perfect Crown' faces criticism for historical inaccuracies May 18, 2026, 16:19:57 IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi
1 days ago
Heart diseases kill approximately 28.6 lakh (2.86 million) Indians annually, with heart attacks acting as a primary contributor to this figure. While there is a lot of awareness about heart attacks, their causes, prevention and the symptoms that might occur
1 days ago
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (May 18, 2026) accused the government of lacking foresight and keeping the state of the economy hidden from the people before Assembly elections. ALSO WATCH Watch: CNG prices hiked again in Delhi
1 days ago
MHADA lottery 2026 sees over 77,000 applications for 2,640 affordable homes in the Mumbai real estate marketMHADA lottery 2026: The state housing authority has extended last date for applications twice in the last one month, and also reduced price of over 1,200 homes Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Mumbai landlord regrets renting out ₹80 lakh flat after dispute over unpaid electricity bill: 'Full-time stress job'A Mumbai-based landlord recently shared his frustration over managing a rented flat in Mira Road. Updated on: May 18, 2026 4:36 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link Owning a
1 days ago
The Supreme Court on Monday criticised its own January verdict that denied bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, saying that “bail is the rule and jail is an exception” even in prosecutions under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
1 days ago
A month after carrying out its biggest retrenchment exercise, India’s largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly asked managers to place around 5% of employees in the company’s lowest performance category during the latest appraisal cycle
1 days ago
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it compulsory for Class 9 students to study three languages. This new three language policy will come into effect from July 1, 2026. From the new academic session, Class 9 students will have to study three languages (R1, R2, R3)
1 days ago
The CBI’s investigation into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has now shifted focus to Rajasthan’s Sikar district, where a family is accused of paying lakhs of rupees to get access to the leaked exam paper for their son. The case has drawn attention after investigators found that the student
1 days ago
Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands for disinfectionThe MV Hondius was still carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel as it reached Europe's largest port on Monday morning. Published on: May 18, 2026 5:02 PM IST AP Share via Copy link The cruise ship hit by a deadly
1 days ago
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has allayed concerns about private investment in the Big Bash League. He stated that fears of Indian Premier League franchise owners taking control are overblown. Greenberg emphasised that Cricket Australia is seeking valuable partners
1 days ago
For many people living abroad, going back home can bring a feeling of comfort that is hard to explain. A Kerala-based content creator recently shared how returning to his village from London reminds him of the simple life he grew up with and the emotional cost of living away from home
1 days ago
‘Only four more months’: DMK leader's bold forecast on Vijay-led TVK regimeHe said that DMK president MK Stalin, who served as chief minister before Vijay’s sweeping victory in the April Assembly election, would soon return to power. Published on: May 18
1 days ago
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa played out a draw with Dutchman Jorden Van Foreest even as Germany's Vincent Keymer surged ahead following a facile victory in the fourth round of Super Chess Classic in Bucharest. With a sole win over Alireza Firouzja of France and three draws
1 days ago
‘People are earning more but losing peace’: Techie explains why life in Tier 1 cities is mentally drainingA techie said Tier 1 city life looked exciting from outside, but came with high rent, traffic and stress. Published on: May 18, 2026 5:00 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link
1 days ago
India’s higher education admissions are evolving as students and parents prioritise relevance over legacy. Curriculum quality, faculty readiness, employability, and visible modernisation are reshaping trust in universities. As AI transforms jobs and skills
1 days ago
‘Never give up’: Bengaluru engineer reveals how he landed Amazon job after 7 rejectionsA Bengaluru man revealed he faced 7 Amazon rejections in 5 years before finally landing his dream job there. Published on: May 18, 2026 1:51 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A Bengaluru
1 days ago
Road crash in UP leaves 10 deadRoad crash in UP leaves 10 dead Published on: May 18, 2026 1:56 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Lakhimpur Kheri , Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said
1 days ago
Maha coaching firm director received NEET paper 10 days before exam, was ‘part of organised gang’HT has learnt that Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar was part of an organised gang who had the paper on his phone and had leaked it to several people. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Spinach malfati is a comforting, vegetarian twist on Italian dumplings, where soft spinach‑paneer parcels meet a rich, roasted‑pepper walnut tomato sauce. Instead of a simple cream‑based pasta, these malfati celebrate earthy flavours: blanched spinach and creamy paneer are shaped into rustic
1 days ago
ASI grants Hindus unrestricted daily access to MP’s disputed Bhojshala complexThe site will continue to be a protected monument under the AMASR Act 1958, with worship timings to be determined by the superintending archaeologist Published on: May 18, 2026 2:02 PM IST By Harsh Yadav
1 days ago
Who is Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff who said he will not hire any more engineers?Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, announced no new engineer hires due to reliance on AI for coding tasks. While AI increased productivity by 30%. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Feeling backed up for days? Gastroenterologist shares a simple bathroom hack that can help with constipationIf you're struggling with constipation and incomplete bowel clearing, try out this simple hack. Dr Salhab explains why it works. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in China’s southwest region of Guangxi early on Monday (May 18, 2026) killed two and forced more than 7,000 in the city of Liuzhou to evacuate as search and rescue operations continue and authorities warn of transport disruptions.A magnitude 5
1 days ago
An Indian court has told Apple to "fully cooperate" with investigators in an antitrust case related to the , not agreeing with the U.S. company's request to put the case on hold while it challenges the law governing antitrust penalties.The Delhi High Court said in an order posted on its
1 days ago
₹3 lakh stipend, hotel stay: IIT student’s Bengaluru internship sparks debateAn IIT student’s internship package in Bengaluru has sparked a wave of reactions online after investor and entrepreneur Kush Agarwal shared details of the offer Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
Drinking iced drinks in summer? Gastroenterologist warns why it actually may backfire and make you feel ‘hotter’The cooling effect of iced drinks may actually be a deception. Know why the instant cooling feeling in your body may be unhealthy. Updated on: May 18
1 days ago
