Death toll mounts to 63 in bus fire

The death toll in the devastating bus fire in Firozabad mounted to 63.

With three more persons succumbing to injuries, the death toll in the devastating bus fire in Firozabad mounted to 63 on Wednesday.

HT Image

"63 pilgrims travelling in the private bus that was returning from Jai Gurudev Ashram in Mathura have been killed in the mishap that occurred on Tuesday evening," District Magistrate, Firozabad, Amit Gupta said.

The family members of the victims have reached in Firozabad from Sultanpur. As several of the bodies were charred beyond recognition, the families have requested the administration to make preparations for the last rites in Firozabad itself.

"The needful would be done. The families wishing to take the bodies back home would be allowed to so," the DM said.

State tourism minister Vinod Singh and Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav visited the accident site in this western Uttar Pradesh district this morning.

According to Superintendent of Police, Firozabad, Navneet Kumar Rana the accident took place when one of the tyres of the speeding bus burst. The diesel tank of the bus exploded and it caught fire near Rupaspur village.