*Dausa/Indore.* In a horrific road accident late Tuesday night on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Dausa district, a sleeper bus traveling from Rishikesh to Indore caught fire after colliding with a truck. Eight people died in the accident, while 24 passengers were injured. The condition of several injured individuals is reported to be critical.

According to the police, the accident occurred around 2:30 AM at 'Zero Point' in Tanawad, within the jurisdiction of the Kolwa police station. The collision was so severe that both the bus and the truck caught fire. Six of the deceased died from burn injuries, while two others succumbed to severe trauma.

### Chaos Ensues After Fire Breaks Out

Dausa Superintendent of Police (SP) Piyush Dixit stated that the fire spread rapidly through the bus after the accident, making it extremely difficult to rescue passengers trapped inside.

Eyewitnesses reported that the bus burned for nearly an hour. During this time, locals risked their lives to try and pull out passengers trapped amidst the smoke and flames. Several children were also injured in the accident. The families of the injured, who have been admitted to the district hospital, are inconsolable.

### Investigation Underway into Claims Regarding Cigarette Packets

Locals have claimed that packets of cigarettes were stored in the bus's storage compartment, causing the fire to intensify rapidly. However, the police have not officially confirmed this claim, and the investigation is ongoing.

### Efforts to Identify Injured and Missing Passengers

According to the police, nine injured passengers have been identified so far, while efforts are underway to identify the remaining passengers and contact their families.

Some passengers are reported to be missing, and search operations are continuing. Officials stated that DNA testing might be required to identify several bodies due to the severity of the burns. ### Chief Minister and Leaders Express Grief

Expressing deep sorrow over the accident, Bhajanlal Sharma prayed for peace for the departed souls and for strength for the bereaved families. He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also took to social media to describe the incident as deeply tragic and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot termed the accident heart-wrenching and conveyed his deepest sympathies to the affected families.

### Apprehension of Rising Death Toll

Murari Lal Meena stated that 37 passengers had booked their travel online, and the possibility of the death toll rising cannot be ruled out. He has directed the administration to issue a helpline number to assist the passengers and their families.

### DNA Testing to Identify Bodies

Dausa District Collector Dr. Saumya Jha stated that samples from all the bodies would be sent for forensic analysis to confirm the identities of the deceased. She expressed hope that the identification process would be completed by late night or Wednesday morning.

Dr. R.K. Meena, the PMO of the district hospital, reported that all eight individuals had died before reaching the hospital. He added that the condition of 13 injured persons remains critical.

### High-Level Committee Formed to Investigate the Accident

Following the horrific accident, the district administration has constituted a high-level committee to conduct a detailed investigation. The committee comprises officials from the administration, police, transport department, Public Works Department (PWD), health department, and road safety agencies.

According to the administration, the committee will examine the technical, administrative, and safety aspects of the accident. It will also review relief and rescue operations and offer suggestions to prevent such incidents in the future.

### Many Injured Passengers from Madhya Pradesh

The injured include passengers from various areas of Madhya Pradesh, such as Indore, Barwaha, Sehore, and Dabra. Some of them are reported to be in critical condition. The administration is currently working to identify them and establish contact with their families. ### Search for Missing Passengers Underway

The administration has confirmed that some passengers are missing and has intensified the search for them. Relief and rescue operations are ongoing, and a thorough investigation into all aspects is being conducted.


List of Injured Passengers
Yachika (7), daughter of Deepak Tanwar, near Omkareshwar, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Neha (26), near Omkareshwar, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Disha (19), daughter of Sanjay, Nanda Nagar, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Suvanand (25), son of Rajesh, Sudama Nagar, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Pradeep (26), son of Narendra, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Mahak (22), daughter of Mahesh, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Yogani (21), daughter of Selendra, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Jitendra Pandey (45), Dussehra Maidan, Patel Colony
Abhinav Pandey (13), son of Jitendra, Dussehra Maidan, Patel Colony
Vishulal (65), son of Balwant Singh, Bhilsedi (Madhya Pradesh)
Shikha (31), Neem Ka Thana, Sikar (Rajasthan)
Chandraprakash (66), son of Hiralal, Dabra (Madhya Pradesh)
Divya (25), daughter of Deepak, Barwaha (Madhya Pradesh) – Critical condition

Search for Missing Passengers Underway
Nirmala, wife of Chandraprakash, Indore
Priyanka (33), wife of Jitendra Pandey, Barwaha (Madhya Pradesh)
Bhumi (20), daughter of Bharat Bhor, Bajrang Nagar, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Deepu (60), son of Narwat Singh, Rampura Kala, Sehore (Madhya Pradesh)

Difficulty in Identifying the Deceased
Dr. R.K. Meena, PMO of the District Hospital, stated that all eight individuals had died before reaching the hospital. He added that the condition of 13 injured persons remains critical.