At least 20 people were killed in a bus fire on a highway in western India, police say, adding that a jammed door kept many passengers from escaping.

The mismatch poses a dilemma in case of war: either endure Chinese missile strikes deep inside India without the ability to retaliate, or go nuclear.

Authorities in northern India say a suspected short circuit sparked a fire on a passenger bus and rapidly engulfed the vehicle in flames, burning at least 20 people to death.

MUMBAI: At least 20 people were killed after a bus caught fire while travelling in the western Indian state of Rajasthan on Tuesday (Oct 14), local media reports and officials said.The vehicle, which carried over 50 passengers,

Police officers responding to the scene found the man, identified as Sahil Ram Thadani, 41, behaving erratically and waving the lighter at pedestrians.

There were at least 20 to 25 passengers on the bus at the time. Nine men, four women and two children were among those killed, police said.