A potentially disastrous incident was averted on Friday morning when a sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to Banaras was engulfed in flames. The incident occurred on the Rama Devi flyover in Kanpur. At the time of the fire, there were 35 to 40 passengers aboard. Ensuring their safety, all the passengers quickly evacuated the bus upon noticing the fire.
Within minutes, the fire grew fierce, consuming the bus entirely. A team of firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene and managed to control the blaze, but the bus was already reduced to ruins. Fortunately, all passengers escaped in time, avoiding a potential catastrophe.
Swift Action by Passengers Prevents Major Tragedy
Local residents reported that as soon as the fire began, passengers acted quickly, exiting the bus through doors and windows to save themselves. People moved away from the road as smoke filled the bus, and intense flames rapidly led to the collapse of the bus structure. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, initial speculation suggests it could have been a sudden engine malfunction or a technical fault.
Police and Firefighters Manage the Situation, Traffic Jam on Highway
Following the alert, multiple teams of firefighters and police swiftly reached the location. Firefighters worked tirelessly to put out the fire. ACP Ashutosh Kumar confirmed that all passengers were evacuated safely, and there are no reports of casualties. Police facilitated the transport of passengers in another bus to Banaras.
The aftermath saw a traffic jam stretching for several kilometers on the Kanpur-Delhi-Howrah highway, resulting in long vehicle queues. Traffic police worked diligently to manage the congestion. Currently, the situation is under control, although the bus has been entirely reduced to ash.
