RAS question
What caused the Jaisalmer bus fire on October 14, 2025?
Correct answer: (D) AC short circuit in illegally modified bus.
The Jaisalmer bus fire of October 14, 2025 was caused by a short circuit in the bus's air-conditioning system, after a non-AC registered bus had been illegally modified with AC.
Explanation
The cause was the AC short circuit, not a general mechanical blast or road accident. The bus was registered as a non-AC vehicle but was later illegally modified with AC. The Economic Times report, citing the FSL finding, confirms that the fire began in the air-conditioning system: the AC unit was mounted on the roof, its wiring was connected directly to the engine, and the spark led to smoke and carbon monoxide inside the bus. The illegal AC modification was therefore central to the October 14, 2025 fire. The Economic Times also reported that the tyres, fuel tank and lower section remained intact, which rules out the common alternative explanations.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) An engine explosion is not supported because the fire originated in the roof-mounted AC unit and its wiring, not in an engine blast.
- (B) A tyre burst is ruled out because the FSL-linked Economic Times report recorded that the tyres remained intact after the fire.
- (C) A fuel tank leak is ruled out because The Economic Times reported that the fuel tank and lower section of the bus remained intact.
Concept
RAS current-affairs coverage of Rajasthan disaster incidents often requires the specific official finding rather than a generic accident label. The incident also links road-safety enforcement with administrative accountability, a recurring RAS theme.