A woman who suffered burn injuries in the massive Greater Noida double-decker bus fire has been admitted to Aarogyadhara Hospital in Jewar for treatment. Speaking to IANS, she recalled the horrifying moments after the AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway late Wednesday night, killing nine passengers and leaving several others injured.
The bus, which was travelling from Delhi's Kashmiri Gate to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly had more than 30 passengers on board. The fire broke out near the 33-km milestone on the Yamuna Expressway around 11.15 p.m.
The woman said she was travelling with her husband, Devendra, to Mahoba after the death of her mother-in-law.
"I was going from Hisar, Chandannagar to Mahoba with my husband because my mother-in-law had passed away," she said.
When asked about her husband, she broke down and said she did not know where he was after the accident.
"His name is Devendra," she said.
Recalling the incident, she said, "I don't know what happened; suddenly the bus caught fire, and people started panicking and shouting 'fire, fire'."
How did the Greater Noida bus fire start?
According to Gautam Buddha Nagar officials, the preliminary investigation suggests that a short circuit or a spark in the bus's air-conditioning system may have triggered the fire.
Additional District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar Singh said the bus was an AC sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba and that the preliminary investigation pointed to a short circuit as the cause of the blaze.
Police sources cited in the preliminary investigation said the fire may have originated from a spark or blast in the bus's air-conditioning system, which then ignited engine lubricating oil. The flames spread rapidly through the vehicle.
Some passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell after the bus entered the Yamuna Expressway and asked the driver to stop. By the time the bus stopped, however, the fire had reportedly broken out and quickly engulfed the vehicle.
Many passengers were sleeping when the fire started, making it difficult for them to escape. A survivor also recalled heavy smoke inside the bus as passengers scrambled to get out.
A detailed investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether any safety or operational lapses contributed to the tragedy.
Why did the fire spread so quickly?
Officials said the fire intensified rapidly after reaching the engine area, with lubricating oil and other flammable materials helping the flames spread.
The design of sleeper buses can also make emergencies particularly difficult to handle, as passengers have to navigate narrow aisles and multiple berths while trying to evacuate. Electrical faults, overheating, modifications to AC systems and inadequate fire-safety arrangements are among the potential risks that can contribute to fires in such vehicles.
Nine passengers killed in blaze
Nine passengers, including a woman, were trapped inside the burning bus and died in the blaze. Several others sustained injuries.
After receiving information about the fire, senior police officials, local police personnel and a fire tender stationed at the Jewar Toll Plaza reached the spot. Four additional fire tenders and a fire service unit were also rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control.
According to the chief fire officer of Gautam Buddha Nagar, around 20 to 25 passengers were rescued from the bus.
Some passengers who suffered minor injuries were later sent to Mahoba for treatment. While some returned in private vehicles, others were provided special transport.
Driver and conductor taken into custody
The driver and conductor were taken into custody after the incident, and a case was registered under relevant sections.
An FIR based on a passenger's complaint has alleged that the driver and conductor ignored warnings about a burning smell and did not immediately stop the bus. These allegations form part of the complaint and will be examined as part of the investigation.
Authorities are now looking into the circumstances surrounding the fire, including whether any safety violations or negligence contributed to the deaths.
Compensation announced
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy.
The Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
The investigation will focus on establishing how the AC-related fire began, how quickly it spread and whether any safety or operational lapses contributed to the loss of lives.
