Nine killed, several injured after AC blast triggers fire on sleeper bus in Greater Noida; driver ignored passengers warning
According to the FIR, the bus reached near kilometre 33 on the Noida-Agra route around 11:30 pm when passengers noticed a burning smell coming from the driver's cabin.
PTC News Desk: A sleeper bus carrying around 30-35 passengers caught fire while travelling on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night. Nine people, including one woman and eight men, died in the incident.
The fire broke out around 11:30 pm as the bus was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba. The flames spread quickly, filling the bus with thick smoke. Some passengers reportedly jumped from the moving bus in an attempt to escape.
A fire department team reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and brought the fire under control.
ADM Ajit Singh said a short circuit was suspected to have caused the fire. Police have detained the bus driver and conductor, identified as Pawan and Yogesh. The bus owner is reportedly from Madhya Pradesh.
FIR claims driver did not stop bus
The FIR, registered on the complaint of passenger Sunil Kumar, gives details of what happened before the fire.
According to the FIR, the bus reached near kilometre 33 on the Noida-Agra route around 11:30 pm when passengers noticed a burning smell coming from the driver's cabin.
Passengers reportedly informed the driver and conductor about the smell. However, the driver allegedly told them that such a smell was common in the bus and did not stop immediately to check the problem.
The FIR further alleges that the driver and conductor continued smoking bidis or cigarettes inside the cabin. Shortly afterwards, flames reportedly appeared near the driver's seat.
Passengers began shouting and asking the driver to stop. The FIR alleges that the driver and conductor initially refused to stop and also threatened passengers.
By then, the fire had spread rapidly and thick smoke had filled the passenger area.
The driver and conductor reportedly fled after the fire broke out. People at the scene tried to help those trapped inside. A fire extinguisher was used, but it reportedly failed to control the flames.
When people heard passengers shouting from inside, they used the extinguisher to break a window and tried to rescue them.
Passengers describe terrifying escape
One passenger travelling from Delhi to Mahoba said he was asleep when another passenger woke him and warned him about the fire.
He said passengers quickly got out of the bus and ran for safety. He recalled that the bus was filled with smoke and there was no proper way to escape.
According to him, passengers somehow managed to get out in the middle of the panic.
CM Yogi offers condolences
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for those injured.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, Yogi Adityanath also spoke to the families of the victims and instructed officials to provide them with all possible assistance.