The bus that caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, killing nine passengers, had nine challans in Delhi, mostly for overspeeding and improper parking, DCP Traffic Central Range K Ramesh said on Thursday.
Nine passengers killed in fire
They are also adding conditions where drivers won’t be able to renew their driving insurance. The driver and conductor allegedly refused to stop the bus despite passengers alerting them about a burning smell and told passengers, “Die if you want to, but we won’t stop the bus, according to the FIR. Still, since it’s an old vehicle, we will do that too. We will take general precautions and keep an eye on it going forward,” Ramesh added. “Regarding the non-payment of challans, there is currently no rule to impound a vehicle for it. Recently, there have been amendments to the CMVR Act regarding this. Action is being taken against those who aren’t paying their challans. The driver and conductor have been arrested in connection with the incident. The FIR was registered at the Jewar police station on a complaint by passenger Suneel Kumar, a resident of Hamirpur district. He did not stop to inspect the vehicle,” he claimed. “The driver and the conductor continued smoking bidis and cigarettes in the cabin. Shortly afterwards, flames erupted near the driver’s seat,” he claimed. By the time the bus stopped, the fire had spread and the vehicle was filled with smoke. The driver and conductor managed to flee, while many passengers suffered burns and were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar for treatment. Police are making efforts to identify the nine deceased.
When police and fire personnel entered the bus amid the smoke, nine people were found dead inside, apparently due to burns or suffocation. The bus, bearing registration number BR32PA8647, was travelling from Kashmere Gate in New Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when it caught fire near the 33-km milestone on the expressway in the Jewar police station area. “This vehicle does have a valid permit up to October 26. The bus caught fire late Wednesday night while carrying 35 passengers. Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar said more than 20 passengers were rescued safely. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Ajeet Kumar Singh said the incident occurred around 11.20 pm on Wednesday and said the fire was caused by a short circuit. Kumar said he boarded the Raj Kalpana Travels bus from Kashmere Gate around 9 pm on Wednesday. Around the 33-km mark on the Yamuna Expressway, passengers noticed a burning smell from the driver’s cabin.
“This bus has nine challans in Delhi, mostly for overspeeding and improper parking,” Ramesh told ANI. Ramesh said the vehicle had a valid permit and that traffic authorities would also examine the fact that it was an old vehicle. On the non-payment of challans, Ramesh said there is currently no rule to impound a vehicle solely for that reason. But at present, we don’t have any such rules,” he said. “If the drivers do not have a permit or 5 years of experience, we consider these types of violations as serious and impound the bus accordingly,” he added. “Despite being alerted, the driver dismissed the situation and said it was nothing unusual. Kumar said he and several passengers managed to jump out, while some remained trapped inside. A case has been registered under relevant sections and the driver and conductor have been taken into custody, police said. (With inputs from agencies)
Preliminary Findings on Fire Incident
A preliminary investigation has revealed that a spark or explosion in the air-conditioning system may have ignited the engine lubricant oil, leading to a rapid spread of the fire. Kumar indicated that this sequence of events is currently being examined as part of the ongoing inquiry into the incident.
