Kurnool Bus Fire: Bus owner arrested, secures bail
The owner, Vemuri Vinod Kumar, was designated by the police as accused number 2, while bus driver Miriyala Lakshmaiah, who is already in custody, has been named as accused number 1.
A major accident was averted on Sunday after an air-conditioned sleeper bus carrying around 80 passengers caught fire while travelling on the Ludhiana-Amritsar National Highway near Khanna in Punjab. Although all passengers managed to escape safely, their belongings were destroyed as the vehicle was completely gutted in the blaze.
According to officials, the bus was travelling from Ludhiana’s Samrala Chowk to Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh when the incident occurred near Bija village, close to Khanna.
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The fire reportedly broke out in the luggage compartment beneath the rear cabin and quickly spread through passengers’ belongings before engulfing the entire vehicle.
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Passengers, including women and children, were thrown into panic after smoke and heat began entering the upper sleeper section. Witnesses said screams erupted inside the bus as travellers rushed to save themselves.
In the chaos, some passengers attempted to get off the moving vehicle and sustained minor injuries.
The driver immediately steered the bus to the roadside after noticing the situation, while the conductor helped evacuate passengers one by one. Officials said the timely response of the bus staff ensured that everyone was safely evacuated before the flames spread further.
Authorities said a few passengers suffered minor injuries and slight burns, but none were reported to be in serious condition. First aid was provided at the scene. However, the fire spread so rapidly that passengers were unable to retrieve their luggage, resulting in significant financial losses.
Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the incident. Firefighters deployed two fire tenders and launched an operation to contain the blaze. Despite their efforts, the bus was destroyed before the fire could be fully extinguished.
Khanna Sub-Divisional Magistrate Swati Tiwana, who visited the site to review relief and rescue operations, said the administration responded immediately after receiving information about the fire. She confirmed that all passengers were safe and that the bus had been reduced to ashes.
Tiwana said preliminary information suggested that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, though the exact reason would be confirmed only after a detailed investigation. She added that officials were preparing a list of passengers and collecting details regarding their boarding and destination points.
Fire department official Kiranveer Singh said two fire engines were dispatched immediately after receiving reports of a passenger bus on fire. He stated that the cause of the incident was under investigation and reiterated that all passengers had been rescued safely.
Police officials said initial findings pointed towards a possible technical fault, but the exact cause would be established after the completion of the inquiry. Meanwhile, the administration arranged assistance for the affected passengers and initiated efforts to provide an alternative bus so they could continue their journey.
No fatalities were reported in the incident, though passengers suffered considerable losses due to the destruction of their belongings. The investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
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