Rajgarh/Sardarpur (Madhya Pradesh): A chartered bus travelling from Jhabua to Indore caught fire suddenly on Wednesday near Solanki Dhaba, Rajgarh on Indore-Ahmedabad four-lane road. About 21 passengers were onboard and all of them were rescued. Fire brigades arrived quickly to control the fire, but by that time, the bus was turned into ashes.
The fire created a long queue of vehicles on both sides of the four-lane road and a thick cloud of smoke was visible for about a kilometre. The fire was intense and burned for a long time, but there were no injuries or loss of life.
Bus driver Umesh Damor reported that a chartered bus (MP 09 FA 9071) left Jhabua for Indore. As they approached Rajgarh, a burning smell was noticed inside the bus. Upon checking, the driver saw flames near the engine. They attempted to put out the fire with water, but it spread quickly.
The passengers were evacuated before the fire worsened. The driver stated that the fire was caused by a short circuit in the bus wiring. The incident caused chaos as people from nearby dhabas rushed to the spot and traffic was obstructed.
The fire brigade from Rajgarh Municipal Council worked hard to control the fire and the Sardarpur fire brigade also arrived later. Rajgarh police helped to clear the traffic. Passengers confirmed that their belongings were safely removed from the bus before the fire spread.
