At least 20 passengers were burned to death and 16 were seriously injured in India when a private bus traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, police reported, according to PTI.

Police said the bus, carrying 57 passengers, left Jaisalmer at around 3:00 p.m. local time. Initially, they said, the fire appeared to have been caused by a short circuit.

Smoke began coming from the rear of the bus on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway. The driver stopped, but the entire bus soon went up in flames.

Local residents and passersby rushed to the scene and assisted in rescue efforts. Military personnel also took part in the operation.

Police added that 16 passengers with severe burns were taken to a hospital in Jodhpur. BJP spokesperson Pokhran Pratap Puri told PTI that while 19 passengers died in the bus, one more died on the way to Jodhpur from burn injuries.

According to media reports, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma arrived in Jaisalmer after receiving information about the incident and was briefed by police.