Ranchi’s Khadgarha Bus Stand Fire Exposes Safety Gaps After Six Buses Gutted

A major fire incident at Ranchi’s Khadgarha bus stand has exposed significant safety and infrastructure gaps at one of Jharkhand’s busiest transport hubs.

The blaze, which destroyed six parked passenger buses, has renewed demands for permanent fire safety measures and improved civic facilities at the facility.

According to officials, the fire broke out on Sunday at the Khadgarha bus stand located near Kantatoli in Ranchi. The buses were parked when one vehicle reportedly caught fire, which rapidly spread to nearby buses.

Although no casualties were reported, six buses were completely gutted, causing substantial financial losses to multiple bus operators. Police suspect a short circuit as the likely cause, though investigations are ongoing.

Emergency services deployed six fire tenders to contain the blaze. However, local witnesses alleged that delays in the fire brigade response contributed to the extent of the damage.

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Residents and staff at the stand attempted to control the flames using water and sand, but the intensity of the fire made initial containment difficult.

The incident has highlighted longstanding concerns regarding fire preparedness at the Khadgarha bus stand, which handles approximately 500 to 600 buses daily and serves nearly 5,000 commuters.

Bus operators and driver associations have pointed out that the facility lacks permanent fire safety infrastructure, including a dedicated fire post, sufficient extinguishers and surveillance systems.

Industry stakeholders also flagged the presence of condemned and out-of-service buses parked alongside operational vehicles due to the absence of a separate storage facility.

Experts warn that such mixed parking significantly increases fire risks and hampers evacuation during emergencies.

Drivers and transport staff further raised concerns about the lack of basic amenities at the stand, including proper sanitation facilities, drinking water supply, vehicle inspection zones and a standby ambulance.

Despite operators reportedly paying a parking fee of ₹150 per bus to the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), transport workers claim that visible safety monitoring and emergency preparedness measures remain inadequate.

Officials from the RMC have stated that around ten fire extinguishers are available at the stand and acknowledged that 17 condemned city buses are currently parked at the facility.

However, transport unions argue that these measures fall short of ensuring adequate safety at such a high-traffic transport hub.

The fire incident follows a similar blaze reported in June 2023, where three buses were destroyed. Temporary deployment of a fire tender after that incident was later withdrawn, further intensifying criticism from transport stakeholders.