Greater Noida/Jewar: Nine passengers were killed and several others injured late on Wednesday after a private bus travelling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, officials said on Thursday. The incident occurred near the 33 km milestone in the Jewar police station area at about 11.20 pm, police said.
Arrests and allegations of negligence
Police said the driver and conductor of the bus have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. An FIR was lodged on a complaint by passenger Suneel Kumar of Hamirpur, who alleged that travellers had alerted the duo to a burning smell coming from the driver’s cabin before flames erupted, but their concerns were dismissed.
"Despite being alerted, the driver allegedly dismissed their concerns and refused to stop," the complaint by Suneel Kumar said, adding that the driver and conductor continued to smoke bidis and cigarettes in the cabin.
According to the complaint and police records, flames were first noticed near the driver’s seat and spread rapidly throughout the vehicle. Several passengers managed to jump out, but nine became trapped and later died, reportedly from burns or suffocation. Those injured were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar for treatment.
Scale of casualties and response
Officials said the bus was carrying 35 passengers when the fire broke out. While multiple people escaped, nine bodies were recovered from the vehicle. Emergency responders and local police moved quickly to the scene after receiving information, and survivors were shifted to hospital for treatment of burn injuries and smoke inhalation.
- Passengers on board: 35
- Fatalities: 9
- Incident location: Yamuna Expressway, near 33 km milestone (Jewar police area)
- Time: around 11.20 pm on Wednesday
Official condolences and financial relief announced
National and state leaders expressed condolences. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered sympathies to the bereaved families. Prime Minister Modi announced a compensation package from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
| Authority | Compensation announced |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister (PMNRF) | ₹2 lakh to next of kin of each deceased; ₹50,000 for each injured person |
| Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister | ₹2 lakh for families of those killed; directed state officials to ensure treatment and assistance |
Investigation under way
Police said they registered a case following the complaint and that the arrested driver and conductor are being questioned. Investigators are examining whether negligence or a technical fault caused the blaze. Forensic teams and traffic police at the Yamuna Expressway are assisting with the probe, and seized items from the vehicle will be examined.
Preliminary claims in the FIR suggest that the driver and conductor were smoking at the time passengers reported the burning smell. Police have booked the accused under relevant provisions; details of the exact charges will be disclosed as the probe progresses.
Local impact and safety concerns
The death toll and the allegation that warnings were ignored have reignited concerns over safety standards in inter-state bus services that operate out of the Capital. Passenger associations and road safety activists have for years urged stricter enforcement regarding maintenance of vehicles, fire safety equipment on board and driver conduct, including bans on smoking in cabins.
Transport officials in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh have been asked by the Chief Minister's office to ensure that injured passengers receive proper medical care and that bereaved families are supported during the next steps, including identification and post-mortem procedures.
What passengers and commuters should know
- Passengers should insist on trained staff and visible safety equipment such as functional fire extinguishers before boarding.
- Smoking inside driver cabins or near fuel sources is strictly prohibited and should be reported immediately to authorities or helplines.
- If you witness a fire or strong smell in a vehicle, insist the driver stop at the earliest safe point and call local emergency numbers; document the vehicle registration and operator details where possible.
Police continue to question survivors and examine the bus to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the fatalities. Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds and post-mortem reports become available.
Aditya Khanna, AI Delhi Correspondent
