Fire Engulfs Delhi-Mahoba Sleeper Bus on Yamuna Expressway, Nine Dead

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A deadly fire broke out aboard a sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba on the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine people and leaving several others injured.

The incident occurred near Dayanatpur village in Greater Noida’s Jewar area late Wednesday night. Police said the bus was carrying approximately 35 passengers when it caught fire at around 11 pm.

The bus was reportedly travelling from Kashmere Gate in Delhi towards Mahoba. According to officials quoted by DT Next, the vehicle was near the 33-kilometre milestone of the Yamuna Expressway when the fire broke out.

The majority of passengers were asleep when the emergency began. This significantly complicated the evacuation because passengers had to wake up, understand what was happening and locate an exit while smoke was spreading through the vehicle.

Several passengers reportedly escaped through windows. Some were able to leave the bus before the fire completely engulfed it. Others, however, were unable to get out in time.

Emergency responders were sent to the location after a distress call. Firefighters used multiple fire tenders to battle the blaze, while police and rescue teams assisted passengers and secured the area.

Despite the rescue efforts, nine passengers were killed. Several other passengers sustained injuries and were transported to hospitals. Reports differed on the precise number of injured as the rescue and medical assessment continued.

Authorities are investigating how the fire started and how rapidly it spread. A preliminary police assessment suggested that a short circuit in the air-conditioning system may have been responsible. Officials have not yet declared the investigation complete, and the exact cause remains to be confirmed.

The police investigation is also focusing on the conduct of the bus crew. The driver and conductor have been arrested, and Jewar police have registered a case under provisions relating to culpable homicide.

The FIR reportedly contains allegations that passengers noticed a burning smell and smoke before the fire became uncontrollable and informed the driver and helper. Investigators will have to establish the sequence of events, including when the crew became aware of the fire and what steps were taken immediately afterward.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those who died. He directed officials to provide proper medical care to the injured and take necessary steps to support affected families.

The tragedy has prompted questions about safety arrangements on sleeper buses operating overnight routes. Fire detection systems, emergency exits, accessible windows, extinguishers and electrical maintenance can all become critical during a vehicle fire.

Investigators will now examine the bus and its maintenance history to determine whether equipment failure or any other factor contributed to the tragedy.

For the survivors, the incident has left behind a traumatic experience that unfolded within minutes during what had begun as a routine overnight journey. Authorities are continuing to gather information, while the condition of injured passengers and the identities of the deceased remain important parts of the ongoing response.

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Jitendra Kumar

Jitendra Kumar is an Indian journalist and social activist from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is known as the senior journalist and founder of Xpert Times Network Private Limited.