Nine passengers have been killed and more than 20 rescued after a double-decker AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar, Greater Noida, late on Wednesday night, September 23. The vehicle, bearing registration number BR32PA8647 and operated by Raj Kalpana Travels, had departed New Delhi's Kashmere Gate at around 9:00 pm carrying between 30 and 35 passengers bound for Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. At approximately 11:15 pm to 11:30 pm, as the bus reached the 33-kilometre milestone, a sudden fire swept through the carriage, trapping several occupants inside. Police and fire services doused the blaze, recovering nine bodies of victims who died from severe burns and suffocation.

Bus crew accused of gross negligence and ignoring warnings

Police have taken the bus driver and conductor into custody following a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Jewar police station by passenger Suneel Kumar, a resident of Hamirpur district. According to the complaint, passengers noticed a distinct burning smell coming from the driver's cabin as the bus traversed the expressway and immediately alerted the crew. The driver allegedly dismissed their concerns as a routine issue and refused to pull over to inspect the vehicle.

Passengers further alleged that the driver and conductor continued smoking bidis and cigarettes inside the cabin while ignoring repeated pleas to stop. When alarmed passengers demanded that the vehicle be halted, the crew allegedly retorted: "If you want to die, then die; we won't stop the bus". Shortly afterwards, flames erupted near the driver's seat and rapidly engulfed the entire vehicle, destroying passengers' luggage, bags, and mobile phones. The complaint accuses the crew of deliberate, gross negligence and reckless disregard for human safety.

Survivors describe panic and desperate leap to safety

As thick smoke rapidly filled the vehicle, chaotic scenes unfolded on the expressway. One survivor, Rekha, who was travelling with her husband, stated that the fire erupted on the driver's side and that the driver fled the vehicle. Recounting the escape attempt, Rekha said: "The bus was stopped and passengers were jumping out of the bus to save themselves".

Another injured victim, admitted to Aarogyadhara Hospital in Jewar with burn injuries, recalled travelling from Hisar to Mahoba with her husband, Devendra, to attend her mother-in-law's funeral. Describing the sudden onset of the tragedy, she said: "I don’t know what happened; suddenly the bus caught fire, and people started panicking and shouting 'fire, fire'". Crying as she spoke, she added that she was unaware of her husband's whereabouts following the mishap.

Technical breakdown sparked rapid fire on expressway

Preliminary investigations conducted by police and local authorities indicate that the fire was triggered by an electrical fault. Additional District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar Singh confirmed that a short circuit or a spark in the air-conditioning system was the primary cause. Officials noted that a spark or blast in the AC system ignited the engine's lubricating oil, causing flames to spread quickly throughout the double-decker carriage.

Emergency services, including a fire tender stationed at the Jewar Toll Plaza alongside four additional units, rushed to the scene to extinguish the inferno. Firefighting personnel rescued between 20 and 25 passengers from the burning structure. While the injured received medical treatment at Kailash Hospital and Aarogyadhara Hospital in Jewar, approximately 15 passengers with minor injuries received first aid and were transported back to Mahoba via special or private vehicles. Authorities have transferred the nine bodies to a mortuary to complete identification procedures.

State and central authorities announce ex-gratia relief

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the lives lost in the tragedy. In a statement shared by the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi expressed his condolences: "Distressed to hear about the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy on a bus in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured".

Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased victim, along with Rs 50,000 for each injured passenger. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took cognisance of the disaster, announcing matching financial relief of Rs 2 lakh for the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 for the injured, while ordering officials to ensure comprehensive medical care.