9 Burnt Alive As Delhi-Mahoba Sleeper Bus Catches Fire On Yamuna Expressway

Delhi: Nine people, including 8 men and 1 woman, were burnt alive after a moving sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night around 11:30 pm.

The bus, bearing number BR32PA8647, was going from Delhi to Mahoba in UP with around 30-35 passengers.

Driver ignored burning smell, was smoking: FIR

According to the FIR filed by passenger Sunil Kumar, passengers noticed a burning smell near the driver’s cabin near Km 33 on the Noida-Agra route. When they alerted driver Pawan and conductor Yogesh, the driver said “such smell is common” and ignored them.

Passengers alleged both driver and conductor were smoking bidi/cigarettes in the cabin and refused to stop the bus even after repeated requests.

Soon, flames erupted near the driver’s seat and spread rapidly. The bus was filled with thick smoke.

Passengers recall horror

Passengers said there was chaos inside. People were pushing each other to escape as there was no proper exit. Some jumped out of the moving bus.

Rinki Rajput, a survivor travelling to Rath, said, “I did not even wear my shoes, just took my phone and ran out. There was so much smoke, nothing was visible. We were suffocating.”

Another passenger said, “We were sleeping, someone woke us up saying bus is on fire. Somehow we managed to get out.”

People at the spot tried to break windowpanes with a fire extinguisher to rescue passengers, but it did not work.

Police Action and Compensation

Both driver Pawan and conductor Yogesh have been detained by police. They had fled from the spot after the fire. Bus owner is from Madhya Pradesh. ADM Ajit Singh said initial probe points to short-circuit.

PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences.

PM and CM have announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for families of deceased and Rs 50,000 for injured. CM Yogi has spoken to victims’ families and ordered proper treatment for injured.