Noida, 24 Sept (HS): On Thursday, officials stated that nine

people were killed when a bus traveling from Delhi to Mahoba in Bihar caught

fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida. They said that 20 people were

successfully rescued during the incident, which occurred between Wednesday and

Thursday nights.

According to Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar, the bus,

registration number BR32PA8647, was traveling from Kashmere Gate in New Delhi

to Mahoba when it caught fire at the 33-kilometer milestone on the highway in

the Jewar police station area. On getting the information, police authorities,

local police, a rescue tender, a fire tender stationed at the Jewar toll plaza,

and four other fire tenders rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire,

according to Kumar.

More than 20 persons were safely rescued throughout the

operation. When police and firefighters boarded the bus amid the smoke, nine

individuals were discovered dead inside, possibly from burns or suffocation, he

said.

Kumar said a preliminary investigation revealed that a spark or explosion in

the bus's air-conditioning system may have caused the engine lubrication oil to

catch fire, causing the flames to spread quickly. Police say they are

attempting to identify the nine deceased.

According to authorities, the complaint has been filed under the appropriate

sections, and the driver and conductor have been arrested.

The UP Chief Minister has taken cognizance of the event and provided financial

help of Rs 2 lakh apiece to the relatives of the dead, according to police. He

has instructed officials to guarantee

appropriate care for the injured and to offer all possible

support to the grieving families.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, UP CM remarked, “The loss of

lives in the tragic fire accident on a bus on the Yamuna Expressway is

extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. My condolences are with the

bereaved families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that He grants place at His divine

feet to the departed souls and bestows swift recovery to the injured.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi