AC sleeper bus catches fire on Yamuna e-way: 9 charred to death, driver ‘alerted about burning smell, didn’t stop bus’

According to the preliminary investigation, the fire is suspected to have started after a spark or blast in the bus’s AC system, which caused the engine lubricating oil to catch fire. The fire, which spread rapidly, started near the 33-km milestone on the expressway in the Jewar police station area.

“A rescue operation was launched immediately, and more than 20 passengers were safely evacuated. Police and fire service personnel entered the bus despite heavy smoke and, after sustained efforts, found that nine people had died inside the bus, apparently due to burns and/or suffocation,” Gautam Buddha Nagar Chief Fire officer Pradeep Kumar said.

Till Thursday evening, around six bodies had been identified. “The others are charred beyond recognition, a DNA sampling will be done,” a police officer said. Around 20 challans are pending against the vehicle, a senior officer said.

Additional District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar Singh told mediapersons that the incident occurred around 11.20 pm. “Bodies have been sent to the mortuary… Around 15 others were sent to Mahoba in a special vehicle, while some left in private vehicles. One woman remains hospitalised…,” he added.

The FIR was registered at the Jewar police station on a complaint filed by a passenger, Suneel Kumar, on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, causing grievous hurt and aggravated criminal intimidation under the BNS.

The complaint alleged that the driver and the conductor’s “deliberate, gross negligence, rashness and reckless disregard” for passenger safety resulted in the deaths.

“Some passengers alerted the driver and conductor to the burning smell, but the driver ignored the serious situation, stating that such burning smells are common in buses… The driver did not immediately stop the bus to inspect it, and the driver and conductor continued smoking beedis and cigarettes in their cabin,” the passenger said.

Shortly after, flames suddenly began to emerge from near the driver’s seat. “Passengers shouted and asked the bus to stop, but the driver and conductor were laughing among themselves and threatening the passengers, saying ‘If you want to die, die; we won’t stop the bus’…,” the passenger added.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives in the incident.

The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.