Noida: At least nine people, including a woman, were killed after a sleeper bus carrying more than 34 passengers caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida during the early hours of Thursday.
The bus was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district when the fire broke out in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar at around 11 pm on Wednesday. Several passengers were reportedly asleep when the blaze started.
According to police, a preliminary inquiry suggests that a possible short circuit in the bus’s air-conditioning system may have triggered the fire. The exact cause, however, is yet to be established.
Yamuna Expressway Bus Fire In Greater Noida
After receiving information about the incident, around 8-10 fire tenders were sent to the spot. Firefighters continued rescue and firefighting operations through the night as several passengers were trapped inside the sleeper bus.
The intensity of the blaze left several passengers unable to escape. Some of those rescued were subsequently taken for medical treatment.
The driver and conductor of the bus have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police have registered a case under provisions related to culpable homicide.
Passenger Recalls Horror Inside Burning Bus
A passenger who survived the incident recalled waking up after someone knocked loudly on the bus door.
She said that by the time she woke up, smoke had spread through the vehicle and people outside were trying to help passengers escape. She managed to get out with only her mobile phone and without collecting her belongings.
According to the survivor, there was considerable panic inside the bus as passengers struggled to find a way out. Thick smoke severely reduced visibility, while several people were reportedly struggling to breathe.
She said only a limited number of passengers appeared to have escaped quickly, while those seated further inside may have found it difficult to reach the exit.
Probe Underway Into Greater Noida Bus Fire
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the fire and are examining the possibility of an electrical fault in the air-conditioning system.
The identities of the deceased and details regarding the injured passengers are expected to be established as the investigation and identification process progresses.
The incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety in sleeper buses, particularly those operating on long-distance routes during night journeys.
