Noida: UP Roadways bus with 15 passengers catches fire on Yamuna Expressway

Neither passengers nor the driver was injured in the incident and they managed to quickly alight the vehicle on noticing fumes and smoke, fire department officials said

An Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus ferrying 15 passengers caught fire while moving on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida on Thursday, said fire department officials, adding that neither passengers nor the driver was injured in the incident and they managed to quickly alight the vehicle on noticing fumes and smoke.

The bus was going from Noida towards Jewar when it caught fire on the expressway around the 24km milestone, under Rabupura police station jurisdiction. (HT Photo)

According to Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, chief fire officer of Gautam Budh Nagar, the fire department was alerted about the incident through social media.

“A commuter posted a video of the burning bus on Yamuna Expressway around 3.50pm following which the fire department took note of the incident and rushed help. A fire service unit left from Ecotech-1 fire station was sent to the spot,” said Chaubey.

The bus was going from Noida towards Jewar when it caught fire on the expressway around the 24km milestone, under Rabupura police station jurisdiction.

“By the time the fire department’s fire service unit reached the spot around 4pm, the fire was already extinguished by the fire service units from the Jewar toll plaza and also from Jaypee Infratech. The station fire service units were used for safety purposes. The driver of the vehicle dialled the emergency number following which these fire service units reached the spot and extinguished the blaze,” said Chaubey.

He added that no one was injured in the incident as the bus driver, staff and passengers got off the bus after smoke started coming from its engine. The cause for the fire is yet to be ascertained, fire officials said.