Fire breaks out in Bengaluru bus, alert driver saves 40 schoolchildren

About 40 schoolchildren escaped unhurt after fire broke out in a Bengaluru government bus thanks to an alert driver who spotted smoke.

About 40 schoolchildren escaped unhurt after fire broke out in a Bengaluru government bus, thanks to an alert driver who spotted smoke and cautioned the passengers.

The driver spotted smoke emanating from rear end of the bus and immediately cautioned students and teachers to alight before fire spreads, police said. (Screen-grab from video tweeted by Pratiba Raman)

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus, part of a convoy ferrying students of BEL School for an excursion, caught fire near Chennapatna, about 60 km from the city.

The driver spotted smoke emanating from one end of the bus and immediately cautioned students and teachers to alight before it spreads to the seats, police said.

Police said, locals too helped in this effort.

Electrical short-circuit may have caused the fire, emergency service personnel said.

Vehicular movement on the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru highway was affected for about two hours.

Police said the buses were hired on a contract.