Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Nine passengers died after a private sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar in Greater Noida late Wednesday night, police said. The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police PRO confirmed the death toll. According to Jewar police, the dead include one woman and eight men.
What Happened
The fire broke out near the 33-km milestone of the expressway, in the Jewar police station area. The bus, travelling from Delhi, was carrying more than 30 passengers, most of whom were reportedly asleep. As smoke filled the vehicle, several passengers escaped by breaking or climbing through windows. Reports differ on the bus's destination: some say Bihar, others say Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. Reports also differ on the exact time, which ranges from around 11 pm on Wednesday to early Thursday.
Police and fire personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control. The injured were taken to Kailash Hospital for treatment.
What the Bus Inspection Found
Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Motor Vehicle Inspector at the Gautam Buddh Nagar RTO office, told PTI that a technical inspection was carried out to check whether the bus had been built according to AIS-119 standards for buses. He said no major issue was found apart from the bus's height, which was 4.1 metres against a prescribed limit of 3.8 metres.
Gupta said the bus had an emergency gate, but that the upper sleeper tier above it may have made it difficult for passengers to get out. The gangway between seats measured 650 mm, above the minimum requirement of 450 mm, he said. Officials have not linked the height issue to the cause of the fire.
What's Still Unconfirmed
The cause of the fire has not been officially established. One report cites police as saying a preliminary probe points to a possible short circuit in the bus's air-conditioning system, while another notes the bus was carrying heavy luggage, including on its roof. No official finding has confirmed either. One report also states that the driver and conductor have been arrested and a case registered under provisions related to culpable homicide. The Commons Voice is awaiting official confirmation of this.
Government Response
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident, expressed condolences to the families of those who died, and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured and extend all possible assistance to the bereaved families.
Sources
PTI (including MVI statement via PTI Videos), Business Standard, Deccan Herald, The Statesman/IANS, NewsX and The Logical Indian.
Latest Development
As of Thursday, September 24, identification of the deceased and notification of families is under way. Investigation into the cause of the fire continues. This story will be updated as officials release more details.