New Delhi, Dec. 18 -- The Union government on Wednesday said that at least 64 people lost their lives in 45 incidents of bus fires during operation in the last three years (till December 10).

Rajasthan recorded the highest number of fatalities, 45, in bus fires during this period, while Maharashtra reported the highest number of total incidents, nine, as recorded on the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) system. Madhya Pradesh saw eight such incidents, while Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka saw six such incidents each in the same three-year period.

The details were presented in the Rajya Sabha by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari while replying to a question on the rising number of such incidents by AAP...