Nine Dead, Over 20 Rescued in Greater Noida Bus Fire, Crew Held

Nine passengers were killed after a sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night, with a police complaint alleging that warnings about a burning smell were ignored before the blaze erupted.

The bus, bearing registration number BR32PA8647, caught fire near the 33-km milestone in the Jewar police station area around 11.30 pm. More than 20 passengers were rescued, while several injured passengers were taken to a hospital in Jewar.

According to an FIR registered at Jewar police station on a passenger's complaint, some passengers noticed a burning smell from the driver's cabin and alerted the driver and conductor. The complaint alleges that the two did not immediately stop the bus or inspect the source of the smell.

The FIR further alleges that the driver and conductor continued smoking in the cabin and dismissed passengers' concerns. Shortly afterwards, flames erupted near the driver's seat and rapidly spread through the bus, filling the passenger compartment with smoke. These allegations are part of the complaint and are being investigated by police.

Fire and police teams rushed to the spot after receiving information about the blaze. Fire officials said around 20-25 passengers were evacuated, while nine people were found dead inside the bus. The deaths appeared to have resulted from burns and suffocation.

The driver and conductor have been arrested, and police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the fire, the vehicle's condition and the allegations regarding the crew's response.

The bus had also accumulated 19 traffic challans worth around Rs 1.75 lakh, according to information from a government database, and its regulatory records are being scrutinised.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced similar assistance from the PM National Relief Fund.