WATCH: Gurugram Bus Fire Claims Two Lives, Injures 13
A devastating bus fire on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway near Jharsa village, Gurugram, has left two people dead and 13 others injured.
A bus fire on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway near Jharsa village, Gurugram, on Wednesday evening has left two people dead and 13 others injured.
The bus, which was en route to Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh, was carrying around 40 passengers, mostly daily wagers returning to their homes.
Fire Erupts from Cooking Gas Cylinder
According to Gurugram Commissioner of Police Vikas Kumar Arora, the fire is believed to have originated from a cooking gas cylinder being carried by one of the passengers. “However, the exact cause of the fire will be determined by forensic experts,” he stated.
Rescue Operations Swiftly Launched
At least four fire tenders were swiftly deployed to extinguish the blaze, which had engulfed the bus. The incident caused a massive traffic jam on NH-48, service lanes, and other connecting roads in the city.
Two Victims Identified
Commissioner Arora confirmed that two charred bodies were recovered from the wreckage. “The deceased have been identified as Maya, 25, and her daughter Deepali, 6,” he informed.
#WATCH | Haryana | Two people died in the fire in a bus on the Delhi-Jaipur expressway in Gurugram. Fire was later doused.
— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023
(Video: Fire Department) pic.twitter.com/CnztdnSS34
Injured Rushed to Hospitals
Thirteen passengers sustained burn injuries in the fire. Eight of them were admitted to Gurugram Civil Hospital for treatment, while five critically injured individuals were transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi after initial treatment at Medanta Medicity.
Preliminary Investigation Points to Rear End Fire
A preliminary investigation suggests that the fire started from the rear end of the bus. “Commuters in other vehicles alerted the bus driver, but by the time he stopped, the fire had spread rapidly,” Arora explained.
Bus Driver and Co-driver Being Tracked
Varun Kumar Dahiya, assistant commissioner of police (crime), revealed that the bus bore an Arunachal Pradesh registration number. They are currently in the process of locating the bus driver and co-driver.
Eyewitnesses Recall the Terrifying Ordeal
Manoj Kumar, an eyewitness to the incident, recounted the harrowing experience. “As soon as we noticed smoke coming from the bus, we tried to warn the driver,” he said. “After the bus stopped, we found several passengers trapped inside. We managed to pull out some injured passengers with our bare hands, assisted by firefighters who arrived promptly to extinguish the flames.”
Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident further. The exact cause of the fire will be determined through forensic analysis.
