A sleeper tourist bus erupted in flames on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida late Wednesday night, killing at least nine people, including a woman, and leaving several others injured. The Greater Noida bus fire has once again put the spotlight on the safety of long-distance night buses in India.
How the Greater Noida Bus Fire Unfolded
The bus was heading from Delhi towards Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated 30 to 35 passengers on board. The blaze broke out near the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, which falls under the Jewar police station limits. Most travelers were asleep at the time, and the flames and thick smoke spread through the vehicle within minutes.
Nine passengers were killed after a Bihar registered sleeper bus heading to Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Dayanatpur village late Wednesday. Around 35 people were on board. Several escaped by jumping through windows, while others were trapped inside. https://t.co/PGZETNsCIs
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Panic followed as passengers scrambled for a way out. Several of them broke windows and jumped onto the expressway to save their lives, while others were trapped inside. Local residents were the first to reach the spot and began pulling people out. Police and fire brigade teams arrived soon after and took over the rescue and firefighting work. The injured were rushed for medical treatment. The bus, which was registered in Bihar, was reduced to a charred shell.
Cause Under Investigation and Safety Questions
Preliminary indications, according to police, point to a possible short circuit in the bus’s air-conditioning system. Investigators are also examining reports that the vehicle was carrying a heavy load of luggage, including bags stacked on its roof. One media report said the driver and conductor were arrested on charges of culpable homicide, though this should be confirmed with police.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety on sleeper coaches that run overnight on expressways. Authorities are reviewing the vehicle’s condition, the emergency exits and the precautions taken by the operator. Further details are expected as the probe advances and the injured are treated.
