Goa, Oct. 15 -- In a horrific bus fire on Tuesday afternoon, 20 people were burnt alive when a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur in Rajasthan caught fire, police confirmed.

The bus, carrying 57 passengers, departed Jaisalmer around 3 pm. As it travelled along the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway, smoke began emanating from the rear portion. The driver stopped the vehicle, but within moments, flames engulfed the bus, leaving passengers with little chance to escape.

Local residents and passers-by rushed to assist in rescue efforts, while fire engines and police teams were alerted to the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, police said.

Adding to the tragedy, reports indicate ...