Jaipur, Aug 11: A private school bus carrying around 25 children caught fire near Dhauva village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on Tuesday, said officials, adding that all were saved and there were no casualties or injuries.

According to the officials, the bus was travelling through the area to pick up students from nearby rural areas when smoke suddenly began billowing from the engine compartment. Within seconds, flames erupted, triggering panic among the children and staff.

The driver immediately pulled the bus over to the roadside and, along with the bus staff, evacuated all 25 children to safety.

Their prompt action helped avert what could have been a major tragedy. The fire spread rapidly, and within minutes the entire bus was engulfed in flames and reduced to a charred wreck.

The bus was reportedly approaching Dhauva village when smoke was first noticed coming from the engine area. As soon as the fire was detected, the driver stopped the vehicle and ensured that every child was safely evacuated. Just minutes after the children were moved away from the bus, the flames engulfed the entire vehicle. Families and local residents breathed a sigh of relief after learning that all the children had escaped unharmed.

Villagers immediately informed the local administration and fire department about the incident. Fire tenders from the Jaisalmer Municipal Council reached the spot, and firefighters began efforts to bring the blaze under control.

After sustained efforts, the fire was extinguished. However, by then, the bus had been completely gutted.

A short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical system is suspected to be the initial cause of the fire.

The exact cause is yet to be confirmed. Police and the relevant departments are investigating the incident. Fortunately, no children or staff members sustained physical injuries.

The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety equipment, vehicle maintenance and mandatory fitness inspections for school buses.

Parents have called for stricter mechanical and electrical inspections of school vehicles in the district to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Guwahati : More than 77,000 people continue to remain sheltered in relief camps across Assam as the flood situation in the state remains under close watch, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said that rehabilitation and restoration efforts were being intensified across the flood-affected areas as the state government continued to respond to the situation.

“More than 77,000 people continue to be sheltered in relief camps as the situation remains under close watch,” Sarma said in the post.

He added that rehabilitation and restoration efforts were being stepped up across the affected areas.

The latest update comes as several parts of Assam continue to grapple with the impact of floods, with thousands of people dependent on government-run relief camps for shelter and essential assistance.

The state administration and district authorities have been engaged in relief and rescue operations, while efforts are also underway to restore essential infrastructure and services in areas affected by the floods.

The Chief Minister has been regularly sharing updates on the flood situation and the measures being undertaken by the state government.

Officials have been monitoring water levels of major rivers and the condition of embankments in vulnerable areas, even as authorities remain alert to the possibility of further deterioration in some locations.

The continuing presence of more than 77,000 people in relief camps highlights the scale of the humanitarian challenge facing the state, with rehabilitation emerging as a key priority alongside immediate relief operations.

The government has also been focussing on restoring roads, communication links and other essential infrastructure disrupted by the floods, while affected communities are being provided assistance through relief mechanisms.

Sarma said the administration would continue to closely monitor the situation and accelerate restoration and rehabilitation measures wherever required.

The flood situation in Assam has caused widespread disruption in several districts this season, affecting homes, livelihoods and public infrastructure.

With a large number of people still residing in relief camps, authorities are expected to maintain enhanced preparedness until water levels recede and affected families can safely return to their homes.

Mumbai: A 53-year-old resident of Thane recently fell prey to scammers and lost Rs 39 lakh in a cryptocurrency investment fraud.

The scammers promised lucrative returns on trading and induced him to register on a bogus trading website and transfer money in over a dozen transactions.

The case dates back to June 26 last year, when he received a phone call from a person sharing information about the trading website, promising withdrawal of earnings by the end of every month.

Another scammer posed as a fund manager, inducing the man to invest. He could see his earnings on the website from June 26 till December 3, but when he asked for his returns, the scammers started giving evasive replies.