Delhi/Noida, 24 September (H.S.): A double-decker bus travelling from Delhi's Kashmere Gate to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway early Thursday, killing nine people, including a woman.

The bus, carrying around 35 passengers, caught fire near the 33-kilometre point of the expressway around midnight on Wednesday. Fire brigade, police and district administration teams reached the spot and launched a rescue operation.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajiv Narayan Mishra, around 26 passengers were rescued from the bus, while nine people died after being trapped inside and sustaining burn injuries.

Several passengers reportedly became unconscious due to smoke and were taken to hospital for treatment. Their condition was stated to be stable.

The fire caused heavy smoke to fill the bus, with some passengers asleep when the incident occurred. Many people were unable to escape and were trapped inside.

Rescue personnel broke the bus windows and used gas cutters to cut through parts of the vehicle to reach those trapped inside and recover the bodies. Police said some of the deceased had been identified, while efforts were underway to establish the identity of the others and inform their families.

A passenger, Rinki Rajput, said she had boarded the double-decker bus at Noida and was travelling to her home in Rath. She was asleep when another passenger repeatedly knocked on her cabin and woke her up. She managed to get out of the bus.

She said there was considerable panic among passengers, with people rushing out without collecting their belongings. Several passengers reportedly lost cash, jewellery, mobile phones and other valuables in the fire.

Police and fire brigade teams are continuing their investigation into the circumstances leading to the fire.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar