Private Bus Catches Fire Near Vijayawada: Quick Action Prevents Tragedy

Vijayawada witnessed a frightening incident on Monday night when a private AC bus caught fire near the city, just days after a tragic accident that claimed 14 lives. Thanks to the quick thinking of the driver , a potential disaster was averted, and all 50 passengers on board were safely evacuated.

According to police , the bus was traveling from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad when smoke suddenly started coming from the battery compartment at the rear. Observing the situation, the driver immediately stopped the bus and instructed the passengers to disembark. Fortunately, no one was injured. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by a battery explosion or a short circuit.

The incident has raised serious concerns about safety standards in private buses. Passengers complained that fitness certificates are often issued merely as a formality and that basic safety measures are frequently ignored. The recurrence of such incidents, while investigations into the recent deadly bus-truck collision are still ongoing, has highlighted gaps in the transport department’s enforcement and oversight.