9 dead as AC bus catches fire on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida
At least nine people died and many were injured when a tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway. The double-decker bus had over 30 passengers onboard during the incident. Ongoing rescue efforts are in place, while the fire's cause remains uncertain.
IN a tragic incident, at least nine people were killed and many others were injured after a sleeper tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida. According to initial reports, the double-decker bus, which had over 30 passengers onboard, caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway while travelling from Noida to Mahoba.
According to the police, the incident took place near the 33-km milestone under the Jewar police station area.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, the police said. The cause of the fire has not been established yet.
“I was sleeping when someone woke me up saying the bus had caught fire, and we all scrambled to get out. It was not an easy situation to escape; there was a lot of smoke. We somehow managed to get out. The bus was packed with passengers,” a passenger on board the ill-fated bus told ANI.
Another survivor described how thick, toxic smoke blinded commuters within seconds, leaving little time to evacuate.
"I was asleep when someone banged on the door. When I woke up, there was already a huge crowd. I didn't pick up any of my belongings; I didn't even put on my shoes. I just grabbed my phone and stepped out. It was so crowded that people were shoving each other. I was pushed around, and someone eventually pulled me out. I don't remember anything else after that," the survivor said.
Fearing that several co-passengers remained trapped inside, the passenger added, "It was filled with smoke; the scene was chaotic, and getting out was extremely difficult... It was so smoky that nothing was visible; people were suffocating inside. Very few managed to escape, only those who could push their way out amidst the shoving... Many people lost their lives... There were quite a few people behind me who probably couldn't make it out, as I myself got out quite late.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the incident and extended his condolences to the families of those who died in the fire.
The CM directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured and to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased after communicating with them, according to an official statement.
