9 Passengers Killed After Delhi-Mahoba Bus Catches Fire On Yamuna Expressway

 Nine passengers were killed after a bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night. The driver and conductor have been arrested in connection with the incident. The passengers of the ill-fated bus allege that the driver and conductor ignored warnings about a burning smell despite being alerted about a burning smell and refused to stop the vehicle.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives in the incident. Mr Modi announced an ex gratia of `2 lakhs each for the next of kin of the deceased and `50,000 for each injured person from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

The Uttar Pradesh CM also announced `2 lakhs each for the families of those killed in the bus fire and directed state officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured passengers and assistance for the bereaved families.

The bus, carrying 35 passengers, caught fire near the 33 km milestone in the Jewar police station area around 11.20 pm. Several passengers managed to escape, but nine were trapped inside and died, apparently from burns or suffocation, officials said.

The FIR, registered on a complaint by passenger Suneel Kumar, a resident of Hamirpur, alleges that passengers noticed a burning smell coming from the driver's cabin before the fire broke out. "Despite being alerted, the driver allegedly dismissed their concerns and refused to stop," he alleged.

Mr Kumar further claimed that the driver and conductor continued smoking bidis and cigarettes in the cabin. Shortly afterwards, flames erupted near the driver's seat. By the time the bus stopped, the fire had spread rapidly, and smoke had filled the vehicle.

According to reports, after the fire broke out, passengers rushed towards the exits, with some jumping out of the burning bus. While the driver and the conductor managed to flee, nine people were trapped inside the bus and died apparently due to burns or suffocation. Several suffered burns and were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar.

Mr Kumar alleged that the driver's and conductor's "deliberate, gross negligence, rashness and reckless disregard" for passenger safety resulted in the deaths.

Police registered a case under relevant sections and took both the driver and the conductor into custody. Gautam Buddha Nagar chief fire officer Pradeep Kumar said the bus, bearing registration number BR32PA8647, was travelling from Kashmere Gate towards Mahoba when it caught fire on the expressway in the Jewar police station area.

"On receiving information, police officials, along with local police personnel, a rescue tender, a fire tender stationed at the Jewar toll plaza and four other fire tenders immediately reached the spot and doused the fire," the Gautam Buddha Nagar chief fire officer said.

"Nine people were found dead inside the bus when police and fire personnel entered the bus after controlling the blaze. More than 20 passengers were rescued safely," the Gautam Buddha Nagar chief said.

A preliminary probe indicated that a spark or blast in the air-conditioning system may have triggered the fire, officials said. The spark may have caused engine lubricant oil to catch fire, following which the blaze spread rapidly.

According to Gautam Buddha Nagar additional district magistrate Ajeet Kumar Singh, the fire was caused by a short circuit. He said around 15 passengers were taken to Mahoba in a special vehicle after receiving first aid, while others left in private vehicles. One woman remained hospitalised at Arogya Hospital.

The Gautam Buddha Nagar officials said that the bodies were sent to a mortuary and efforts are under way to identify the deceased. A crane removed the charred remains of the bus from the expressway on Thursday morning.

An injured passenger, Rekha, who was travelling with her husband, said she fell while trying to escape and was trampled by other passengers. "The bus was stopped, and passengers were jumping out of the burning bus to save themselves. I managed to escape and fell on the road," she told the media from her hospital bed.