39 Passengers Escape Narrowly as Bus Catches Fire in AP

The incident occurred between 5.30 am and 5.40 am when the rear engine of the private travels bus, Inter-City Smart Bus, caught fire on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada National Highway No. 65 in NTR district.

According to Kanchikacherla police, the bus, operating between Hyderabad and Guntur, started from Hyderabad at midnight with 39 passengers on board. After crossing the Keesara toll gate at around 5.26 am, the bus halted briefly and then resumed its journey.

While the bus was proceeding, the driver, Chandramouli, noticed smoke billowing from the rear engine through the rear-view mirror. He immediately stopped the bus on the roadside and asked the cleaner, Basha, to inspect the rear portion of the vehicle.

The cleaner noticed thick smoke followed by flames emanating from the rear engine compartment and immediately alerted the driver. The driver promptly instructed all passengers to alight and ensured that their luggage was removed from the luggage compartment.

The driver alerted the police, who in turn informed the fire services. Fire personnel from the Kanchikacherla fire station rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze. However, by the time the fire was brought under control, the bus had been completely gutted. No passenger sustained any injuries in the incident.

The driver informed the bus management about the mishap, following which an alternative bus was arranged to enable the stranded passengers to continue their onward journey.

Police registered a case of accidental fire and collected samples from the burnt rear engine portion, which have been sent to a forensic laboratory in the city for analysis. An investigation is under way to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.