Nine Killed in Bus Fire on Yamuna Expressway
- At least nine people were killed and several others injured late Wednesday when a private sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near the Jewar Airport in...
- The Raj Kalpana Travels bus originated its journey from Kashmere Gate in Delhi and was traveling toward Mahoba, according to News18.
- Authorities have registered a case against the bus driver and conductor, arresting both individuals on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash and negligent driving,...
At least nine people were killed and several others injured late Wednesday when a private sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near the Jewar Airport in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, according to reports from multiple news outlets including NDTV, The Times of India, and News18.
The Raj Kalpana Travels bus originated its journey from Kashmere Gate in Delhi and was traveling toward Mahoba, according to News18.
Arrests and Police Investigation
Authorities have registered a case against the bus driver and conductor, arresting both individuals on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash and negligent driving, according to The Hindu and Moneycontrol.
According to an official cited by News18, the driver and helper ignored a burning smell for a sustained period despite multiple passenger complaints. The First Information Report further notes that the driver and staff were smoking inside the cabin while operating the vehicle, as reported by Moneycontrol and News18.
Passenger Accounts and Rescue Operations
Officials stated that between 30 and 40 people were on board the bus when the flames erupted, according to News18. Dense smoke severely reduced visibility inside the cabin, trapping several occupants while others forced open windows to escape.
Speaking to the news agency ANI, a surviving passenger described the chaotic evacuation:
…I was asleep when someone banged on the door. When I woke up, there was already a huge crowd. I didn’t pick up any of my belongings; I didn’t even put on my shoes. I just grabbed my phone and stepped out.
ANI
The passenger added that the interior filled with thick smoke quickly, making movement difficult as occupants shoved past one another to reach the exits. Jewar Police and local fire brigade units responded to the scene to conduct rescue operations and extinguish the fire, according to News18.