He also ordered payment of Rs 25,000 each to those injured in the freak mishap, which occurred when a luxury air-conditioned bus of a private company caught fire last evening, about 35 km from district headquarters Bathinda, according to an official spokesperson.
The bus, belonging to Raiya Transport Company (RTC), was on way from Bathinda to Ludhiana when the fire broke out near the railway crossing at Rampura Phul.
The chief minister also directed the district authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident and fix culpability of those responsible.
He also asked the transport department, which is already working on a new transport policy for the state, to take into account all factors to ensure a stringent safety mechanism for vehicles, especially buses, plying on the roads.