Coimbatore: As many as 21 people sustained injuries after a private electric bus caught fire near Karumathampatti here. The bus, which was travelling from Tiruchirappalli to Coimbatore with 24 passengers on board, met with the accident in the early hours of Sunday.

The incident occurred at around 2.30 am, while on its return journey when the bus lost control upon reaching Karumathampatti and veered onto the median. The collision caused the vehicle to catch fire.

At that moment, two lorry drivers — C Sabarimala (29) and M Ramesh (29), both residents of Tiruchuli in Virudhunagar — rushed to the scene, broke the bus windows, and helped rescue the passengers.

Other passers-by also assisted in taking the injured to hospital. None of the injuries were reported to be serious. The fire subsequently intensified.

Fire and rescue teams from Sulur and Karumathampatti arrived and extinguished the blaze. Karumathampatti Police has launched an investigation.