New Delhi:
According to the First Information Report (FIR), passengers on a sleeper tourist bus that caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, smelled something burning minutes before the blaze broke out, yet the driver and conductor continued to smoke.
Police records indicate that passengers had previously objected to the driver and conductor smoking inside the vehicle; the pair laughed off the complaints and threatened the passengers to keep quiet.
A smell of burning soon filled the speeding bus, and passengers alerted the driver. However, the driver and conductor dismissed the concern, claiming such odors were common in the vehicle. Despite repeated requests from passengers, the driver failed to inspect the bus and kept smoking.
Minutes later, flames erupted from the front of the bus.
According to the police report, when passengers began screaming, the driver told them: “I don’t care whether you live or die; I am not stopping.”
The bus, bearing Bihar license plates and carrying 35 passengers, was traveling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when it quickly became engulfed in a blazing fire; thick smoke billowed out, making it difficult for passengers to escape. The incident resulted in nine deaths and multiple injuries.
Footage shows the bus completely charred and engulfed in raging flames, with firefighters continuing to extinguish the fire and rescue passengers.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by an explosion in the bus’s air-conditioning system; the blast ignited the engine’s lubricating oil, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
The bus driver and conductor survived the fire, and police have detained them for questioning.
“It was all a smokescreen.”
A 64-year-old female survivor—who was traveling to Mahoba following the death of her mother-in-law—told NDTV that many passengers trampled over her as they tried to escape.
“We were asleep when suddenly someone shouted, ‘Get out quick, the bus is on fire!’ In the blink of an eye, thick smoke was billowing, and everyone started running,” she said, adding that her husband couldn’t even get up.
“No one gave him a chance. His leg was broken, yet no one gave him a chance,” she said.
Another passenger said she was asleep when the fire broke out.
“When I woke up, it was a sea of people. I didn’t pack anything—I didn’t even put on my shoes. I just grabbed my phone and headed out. There were so many people, and everyone was shoving. I was being pushed around until someone finally pulled me out. I don’t remember anything after that,” she said.
According to the passenger, only a very small number of people managed to escape.
“Only those who could push their way through the crush managed to escape. Many lost their lives. There were quite a few people behind me who likely didn’t make it out, as I myself got out rather late,” the survivor said.
Prime Minister Modi addresses the bus fire incident
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences regarding the bus fire and announced compensation of 200,000 rupees for the families of the deceased.
Authorities also announced compensation of 50,000 rupees for the injured.
“Deeply saddened by the bus fire incident in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which has resulted in casualties. My condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced a similar compensation package and expressed his condolences to the families of the fire victims. He further directed officials to ensure the injured receive proper medical treatment.
Bus Fined
Investigations revealed that the bus had incurred over 60 fines for various traffic violations, 20 of which remained unpaid.
According to records from a vehicle information website, the total outstanding fines for the bus (license plate number BR32PA8647) exceeded ₹170,000. The most recent fine, amounting to ₹18,500, was issued on August 19 for a traffic violation in the Mayur Vihar area of Delhi.