📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Qirille
National
Nine Dead as Sleeper Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 25 Sep 2026, 01:46 AM
👁 8
A sleeper bus traveling on the Yamuna Expressway was engulfed in flames, killing nine passengers, officials said.
A passenger sleeper bus traveling along the Yamuna Expressway caught fire on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of nine occupants, according to local authorities. The blaze erupted while the vehicle was moving, prompting nearby motorists to stop and assist. Emergency services arrived promptly, but the intensity of the flames made rescue efforts difficult.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have started in the bus's engine compartment, though the exact cause remains under inquiry. The victims, identified as passengers on the overnight journey, were taken to nearby hospitals, where eight were pronounced dead on arrival and one succumbed to injuries later.
The incident has raised concerns about safety standards for long-distance sleeper buses operating on high-speed corridors. State transport officials have announced a review of fire safety equipment and emergency response protocols for such vehicles.
Police have registered a case of accidental death and are conducting a thorough probe to determine any negligence or technical fault that could have contributed to the tragedy. Families of the deceased have been informed and are being provided with assistance.
The Yamuna Expressway, a key link between Delhi and Agra, was temporarily closed for the investigation, and traffic was diverted to alternate routes. Authorities are urging commuters to remain vigilant and report any irregularities in public transport services.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have started in the bus's engine compartment, though the exact cause remains under inquiry. The victims, identified as passengers on the overnight journey, were taken to nearby hospitals, where eight were pronounced dead on arrival and one succumbed to injuries later.
The incident has raised concerns about safety standards for long-distance sleeper buses operating on high-speed corridors. State transport officials have announced a review of fire safety equipment and emergency response protocols for such vehicles.
Police have registered a case of accidental death and are conducting a thorough probe to determine any negligence or technical fault that could have contributed to the tragedy. Families of the deceased have been informed and are being provided with assistance.
The Yamuna Expressway, a key link between Delhi and Agra, was temporarily closed for the investigation, and traffic was diverted to alternate routes. Authorities are urging commuters to remain vigilant and report any irregularities in public transport services.