India
oi-Swastika Sruti
“The bus that caught fire in the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, causing nine deaths, has been challaned nine times in Delhi for traffic violations. Most of them are about over-speeding and parking,” officials revealed on Thursday.
A bus fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Greater Noida killed nine passengers; the vehicle had nine prior traffic challans in Delhi, primarily for over-speeding, as officials investigate the blaze’s cause, with initial theories mentioning the AC or a short circuit.
The revelation follows an inquiry into the fire incident by the police to probe into the condition of the bus, driver’s behavior, and the cause of the fire.
According to DCP Traffic Central Range K Ramesh, the bus has a valid permit but it is an old one. The authorities would check the condition of the vehicle.”
Bus Had Nine Challans In Delhi
According to Ramesh, the bus, registered as BR32PA8647, had accumulated nine challans in Delhi. “This bus has nine challans in Delhi, mostly for overspeeding and improper parking,” Ramesh told ANI.
The bus was travelling from Kashmere Gate in Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when it caught fire near the 33-km milestone of the Yamuna Expressway in the Jewar police station area.
Ramesh said the vehicle’s permit was valid until October 26. However, given its age, authorities will also examine whether the condition of the bus had any role in the incident.
No Current Rule To Impound Bus Over Unpaid Challans
The traffic official also answered queries regarding the non-payment of earlier challans.
According to Ramesh, there are currently no provisions whereby the non-payment of the challans would lead to the automatic seizure of the vehicle.
He said that recently there have been changes to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules and these changes include penalties for non-payment, which may affect the renewal of relevant documents and insurance.
But at the same time he said that these provisions do not allow for automatic seizure of vehicles due to unpaid challans.
Ramesh added that violations such as operating without a valid permit or employing a driver without the required five years of experience are treated more seriously and can lead to the bus being impounded.
Nine Passengers Died In The Fire
The bus was carrying around 35 passengers when it caught fire late on Wednesday night.
The driver and conductor have been arrested following the incident.
According to the FIR, passengers allegedly noticed a burning smell and asked the driver to stop the bus. The complaint alleges that the driver and conductor refused to stop despite the warnings.
Passenger Suneel Kumar, who filed the complaint, reportedly told police that the driver allegedly told passengers, “Die if you want to, but we won’t stop the bus.”
More than 20 passengers managed to escape from the burning vehicle, according to fire officials.
Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar said that when police and fire personnel entered the bus after controlling the blaze, they found nine passengers dead inside. Preliminary indications suggested that the victims died from burns or suffocation.
How Did The Fire Start?
Officials have indicated the possible cause of the fire. Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar said an initial assessment suggested that a spark or blast involving the air-conditioning system may have caused engine lubricant oil to catch fire. The flames then spread rapidly through the vehicle.
However, Additional District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar Singh said the fire was caused by a short circuit.
The difference in the preliminary explanations means the exact cause will have to be established through a detailed technical investigation.
Passenger Claims Burning Smell Was Ignored
According to the FIR, passenger Suneel Kumar boarded the Raj Kalpana Travels bus at Kashmere Gate at around 9 pm on Wednesday.
When the bus reached around the 33-km point on the Yamuna Expressway, passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell coming from the driver’s cabin.
Kumar alleged that passengers alerted the driver, but he dismissed their concerns and did not stop the bus to inspect the vehicle.
He further alleged that the driver and conductor continued smoking bidis and cigarettes inside the cabin before flames suddenly appeared near the driver’s seat.
By the time the bus stopped, the fire had reportedly spread rapidly and smoke had filled the passenger compartment.
Driver And Conductor Arrested
Several passengers managed to escape by jumping out of the bus, while others were trapped inside as the fire intensified. The driver and conductor reportedly fled from the vehicle after the fire broke out.
Passengers who suffered burn injuries were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar for treatment. Police have registered a case at Jewar police station based on the complaint and arrested the driver and conductor.
