A private passenger bus travelling from Surat to Kanpur caught fire near Sardarpur in Madhya Pradesh late at night, leaving passengers in panic. Several passengers reportedly broke the bus windows to escape the flames. Some sustained minor injuries, while most of their luggage and belongings were destroyed.
Smoke Detected While Bus Was Moving
The incident took place near Bhopawar Chowki in Sardarpur. According to preliminary information, passengers noticed smoke coming from the bus while it was travelling towards Kanpur.
The driver immediately pulled over after spotting the smoke. However, the fire quickly spread and engulfed the vehicle. Passengers rushed towards the door, while some broke the window panes and jumped out to save themselves.
Mother Throws Son Through Window to Save Him
Neelam Pal, a passenger from Kanpur, said she was travelling with her eight-year-old son when the bus suddenly filled with smoke.
In a desperate attempt to save him, she threw her son out through a window before escaping herself. Several passengers suffered minor injuries during the escape.
Bus Had Stopped Near Dahod for Four Hours
Passengers said the bus had stopped for nearly four hours at a hotel near Dahod in Gujarat before continuing its journey. They claimed that technical work was carried out on the vehicle during the halt.
The fire later broke out while the bus was travelling through Madhya Pradesh. Police are expected to investigate whether a technical or mechanical fault caused the blaze.
Police Divert Traffic and Help Passengers
After receiving information, Sardarpur SDOP Vishwadeep Singh Parihar and a police team reached the spot. Traffic on one side of the road was stopped and vehicles were diverted through the other side.
By the time firefighters and an ambulance reached the scene, a large part of the bus had already been destroyed. Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control.
After providing first aid to the injured passengers, police arranged alternative buses travelling towards Indore so that the passengers could continue their journey.