Greater Noida Bus Fire: Two Arrested After Nine Passengers Died in Yamuna Expressway Blaze

Two people have been arrested after nine passengers lost their lives when a sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar in Greater Noida late Wednesday night. According to the FIR, some passengers had detected a burning smell inside the bus shortly before the fire broke out. The bus was travelling from Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi to Mahoba when the incident occurred near the 33-kilometre mark of the Yamuna Expressway at around 11.30 pm on September 23.

The FIR filed at Jewar Police Station states that approximately 30 to 35 passengers were on board. Several passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell coming from the drivers cabin and informed both the driver and conductor. However, the complaint alleges that the vehicle was not stopped immediately and that smoking continued inside the drivers cabin.

Soon afterwards, flames reportedly appeared near the drivers seat and quickly spread through the bus. Passengers panicked and raised an alarm, urging the driver to stop the vehicle as rescue efforts began. Noida Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar told ANI that several fire and rescue teams were dispatched after authorities received information about the incident. Four fire tenders reached the spot, and rescue personnel managed to evacuate around 20 to 25 passengers.

Kumar said nine people died as a result of the fire and suffocation. He added that a case had been registered and that the driver and conductor were arrested, while further investigation was underway. After firefighters brought the blaze under control, nine passengers were found inside the bus. They were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar, where doctors declared them dead. The victims reportedly died from burn injuries and suffocation.

Police have registered a case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 281, 125(b), 105 and 351(3). The driver and conductor remain in police custody as investigators examine the cause of the fire and the allegations that the bus was not stopped promptly despite passengers raising concerns. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for each family that lost a member in the incident. The injured passengers will receive Rs 50,000 each.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.