Bus enroute to Bengaluru from Jodhpur catches fire; driver's quick action saves 16
Jaipur, May 20
A major tragedy was narrowly averted after a private travel agency bus travelling from Jodhpur to Bengaluru caught fire near the D-Mart outlet on Pali Road, triggering panic among passengers.
Thanks to the driver's prompt response and presence of mind, all 16 passengers were safely evacuated before the flames engulfed the vehicle. The incident took place on Tuesday night when the MR Travels bus had just crossed Jhalamand and was heading out of the city limits.
According to police, sparks suddenly began emerging from the engine section, causing panic inside the bus as passengers noticed flames and smoke spreading rapidly. Demonstrating remarkable alertness, the driver immediately pulled the bus to the roadside and evacuated all passengers through the main exit within moments.
While most passengers managed to save their belongings, some luggage was completely destroyed in the blaze. The fire quickly spread through the vehicle, reducing most of the bus to ashes before firefighters could fully contain it.
According to Vivek Vihar Police Station SHO Dilip Khadav, police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident.
Chief Fire Officer Jalaj Ghasia said the fire alert was received, following which two fire tenders from Basni Fire Station and one from Shastri Nagar Fire Station were dispatched under the supervision of Officer Prashant Singh Chauhan. After nearly half an hour of intense firefighting efforts, the blaze was brought under control. Traffic movement on Pali Road remained disrupted for around 30 minutes during the operation.
Police later removed the burnt bus from the road with the help of a crane and shifted it to the Vivek Vihar Police Station premises for further investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have originated due to overheating or a short circuit near the engine wiring.
Officials said the bus belonged to the Euro-6 category, and similar engine-area fire incidents involving such buses have reportedly surfaced in other states as well. A detailed technical investigation by the fire brigade team is now underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
— IANS
Reader Comments
So scary! I travel by bus often between Bengaluru and other cities. This could have been tragic. But I'm glad the driver acted fast — being alert on Indian roads, especially at night, is crucial. Also surprised it took 3 fire tenders and 30 minutes to control the fire for just one bus? 🤔
Another day, another bus fire in India. What is it with our buses catching fire? From luxury Volvos to private operators like MR Travels, it's becoming too common. The driver deserves full credit for evacuation, but the bus company should be held accountable for maintenance. Passengers lost luggage too — who compensates that? 😤
As someone from Bengaluru, I've taken this route many times. Night buses in Rajasthan are usually fine, but this incident shows we need better safety drills for drivers. Why no fire extinguishers accessible to passengers? Why no emergency windows? The seat belt culture is missing too. Still, thankful no lives lost — that's what matters most. ❤️
Typical Indian response — quick action by driver, but why do we always wait for tragedy to learn? The Euro-6 bus fire issue has been flagged before. Also, just 30 minutes for traffic disruption? That's surprisingly fast in India! But seriously, we need mandatory fire safety drills for all interstate bus crews. Good job by the fire brigade though. 💪
I'm an expat living in Bangalore and was planning to take this bus next week. Reading this is terrifying but also reassuring — if drivers are trained like
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