A tragic incident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida when a bus caught fire, reportedly ignoring warnings from passengers. The bus, belonging to Raj Kalpana Travels, was transporting approximately 30 to 35 passengers late on Wednesday night, resulting in nine fatalities, including one woman and eight men. This information is detailed in a First Information Report (FIR) obtained by India Today.

The FIR was filed by Sunil Kumar, a passenger on the bus that carried registration number BR32PA8647. He had boarded the vehicle in Delhi, intending to travel to Mahoba. Around 11.30 pm, near kilometre 33 of the Noida-Agra route, passengers detected a burning odour emanating from the driver’s cabin, prompting them to alert the crew.

Despite their concerns, the driver allegedly dismissed the smell as a common occurrence. The FIR stated that the driver failed to stop the bus and even continued smoking cigarettes in the cabin, thereby neglecting safety protocols. Shortly after, flames erupted near the driver’s seat, leading to a panic situation among passengers.

Passenger Accounts and Escape Attempts

Eyewitness accounts reveal the chaos that unfolded as the fire spread rapidly. Passengers shouted for the driver to halt, but the driver and conductor allegedly laughed and refused to comply with their requests. It was reported that they told passengers, “Go die, we will not stop the bus,” exacerbating the situation as smoke filled the vehicle.

Once the bus finally stopped, passengers attempted to flee. Sunil Kumar managed to escape, learning at Kailash Hospital in Jewar that nine individuals had lost their lives. Many others sustained serious burns and required medical attention. Desperate rescue attempts by bystanders included using a fire extinguisher to break a window, as voices could still be heard from within the bus.

One passenger, who escaped thanks to an alert from another, noted the panicked atmosphere. He recalled that despite being seated at the rear of the bus when the fire started at the front, he successfully exited through the overwhelming smoke. Another passenger, Rinki Rajput, described the situation as chaotic, with individuals pushing each other in their rush to escape without grabbing belongings.

Actions Taken Post-Incident

In the aftermath of the fire, authorities detained two drivers and a conductor connected to the bus, identified as Pawan Kumar, Yogesh Dixit, and Rohit, all reportedly hailing from Kanpur. This action occurred as investigations began regarding the negligent conduct leading up to the fire.

Details surrounding the bus itself raised further questions. The operator, Raj Kalpana Travels, is based in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, with the vehicle registered in Madhubani district, Bihar. Furthermore, its fitness certificate was issued in Rajasthan, while its pollution control certificate came from Haryana.

The bus was found to have multiple outstanding fines. On April 7, a fine of Rs 6,900 was imposed for speeding without a driving licence, along with several other fines throughout the year for various infractions, totaling significant amounts. These violations, coupled with the alleged negligence of the driver and conductor, raise serious concerns about safety measures within the operation of the bus service.

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