India, Oct. 14 -- At least 19 people were killed when a private bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur in Rajasthan caught fire on Tuesday, media reports said.

The bus, carrying 57 passengers, had left Jaisalmer around 3 p.m. When it reached the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway, smoke began emerging from the rear portion of the vehicle.

The driver immediately pulled over, but within moments, flames engulfed the entire bus, trapping several passengers inside.

Fire engines and police teams reached the site shortly after, while the injured were taken to Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer for treatment.

Police said a short circuit is suspected to have caused the blaze, though a detailed investigation is underway.

The Jaisalmer district administrat...