Barmer/Jaisalmer, Oct. 19 -- The state- mandated investigation into the fire in Jaisalmer district that broke out on October 14, in a sleeper bus bound for Jodhpur from Jaisalmer and killed 23 people has revealed that the vehicle- which belonged to a private firm- was modified illegally against prevailing safety standards, a senior probe panel member said on Saturday. "Two passengers seats were installed directly in front of the emergency exit, blocking the passage completely. The rear exit was undersized, preventing passengers from escaping when the flames broke out. As a result, most were trapped inside and perished," said additional transport commissioner and joint secretary OP Bunkar, who heads the investigation committee. "The body of the bus was extended beyond the approved length to accommodate more seats and sleeper berths, which made it heavier and more unstable. The interiors were made up of highly combustible materials, which helped the flames spread faster," he added. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the initial spark, said Bunkar. Firecrackers and Diwali decorations were recovered from within the charred wreck, but were found largely intact, suggesting a different cause, he added. Nineteen passengers were killed on the spot in the incident's immediate aftermath, while another died while being rushed to Jodhpur for treatment. Two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. According to officials with Jodhpur's Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, four passengers remain on ventilator support, while eight are under close medical supervision. The probe committee, which also includes regional transport officer Dharmendra Kumar and state road transport corporation executive director Ravi Soni, conducted a detailed inspection on Friday, officials said The state government has also assigned the technical probe to the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), Pune. The CIRT team inspected the site on Friday and wil prepare a detailed report for the state government....