9 Dead After Sleeper Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway, AC Blast Suspected
GREATER NOIDA: Nine passengers were killed after a sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar late Wednesday night. Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that a spark or blast in the bus’s air-conditioning system may have ignited engine lubricating oil, causing the flames to spread quickly.
Greater Noida Bus Fire Accident Leaves 9 Dead
The bus, which had a Bihar registration, was travelling from Kashmere Gate in Delhi towards Mahoba when the blaze broke out near the 33-kilometre milestone in the Jewar police station area at around 11.30pm on September 23.
Around 35 passengers were on board. More than 20 people were rescued, while nine passengers, including one woman, were found dead inside the vehicle. Police said the victims appeared to have died from burns or suffocation.
The Greater Noida bus fire accident has prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blaze and whether any safety lapses contributed to the deaths.
AC Blast Suspected As Fire Spreads Rapidly
According to police, the preliminary investigation indicates that a spark or blast in the air-conditioning system may have caused engine lubricating oil to catch fire. The flames then spread rapidly through the bus.
The AC blast sleeper bus Noida highway incident occurred while several passengers were asleep, leaving limited time for them to escape as smoke and flames filled the vehicle.
A police complaint also contains allegations that passengers noticed a burning smell before the fire erupted and asked the driver to stop. Those allegations are part of the investigation and have not been established as proven facts.
The development comes amid renewed concern over safety on long-distance sleeper coaches, following earlier highway bus safety concerns and other major road incidents.
Driver And Conductor Taken Into Custody
Police have taken the driver and conductor into custody as investigators examine the cause of the fire and events immediately before the vehicle stopped. An FIR has been registered at Jewar police station.
Fire service teams and police personnel reached the site after receiving information about the blaze. Rescue teams entered the bus after the fire was brought under control and recovered the bodies of those who had remained trapped inside.
Compensation Announced For Victims
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed and directed officials to ensure treatment for the injured.
The state government announced ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each bereaved family and ₹50,000 for those injured.
The Greater Noida bus fire accident remains under investigation, while authorities work to establish the precise sequence of events and determine whether additional safety violations contributed to the deaths. The findings will be important in establishing accountability for the AC blast sleeper bus Noida highway tragedy.
