Yamuna Expressway Bus Fire: Driver Allegedly Ignored Warnings as Flames Engulfed Sleeper Bus

A sleeper bus carrying around 30–35 passengers caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night, killing nine people, including one woman and eight men.

According to the FIR filed on the complaint of passenger Sunil Kumar, passengers first noticed a burning smell near the driver's cabin around 11:30 pm, when the bus was near kilometre 33 on the Noida–Agra route.

Passengers allegedly alerted the driver and conductor, but the driver reportedly dismissed their concerns, saying such a smell was common on the bus. The complaint further alleges that the driver did not stop the vehicle to investigate and that the driver and conductor continued smoking in the cabin.

Moments later, flames reportedly erupted near the driver's seat. As passengers shouted and repeatedly pleaded with the driver to stop, the FIR alleges that the driver and conductor laughed and refused to stop the bus.

The complaint alleges they told passengers, “Go die, we will not stop the bus.”

The fire quickly spread through the vehicle, filling the passenger compartment with thick smoke. Several passengers managed to escape by jumping out after the bus stopped, while others became trapped inside.

Several injured passengers were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar, where doctors declared nine people dead, according to the FIR.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as passengers struggled to escape through the smoke. One passenger said he was asleep at the back of the bus when someone woke him and alerted him to the fire.

Another passenger, Rinki Rajput, said she escaped without even putting on her shoes, taking only her phone. She recalled passengers pushing one another in panic as they tried to get out.

Two Drivers and Conductor Detained

Police detained two drivers and a conductor in connection with the incident. They were identified as Pawan Kumar, Yogesh Dixit and Rohit, all residents of Kanpur.

According to the information provided, Pawan Kumar and Yogesh Dixit were drivers, while Rohit was the conductor.

Questions Over Bus Registration and Operations

Details emerging after the accident have also raised questions over the bus's registration and operation. The bus owner is reportedly a resident of Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, and the vehicle was operated by Raj Kalpana Travels.

The bus was registered with the Transport Department in Madhubani district of Bihar and operated on the Kashmiri Gate, New Delhi–Mahoba route.

The allegations in the FIR, including the reported refusal to stop despite passengers' warnings, will be subject to investigation and further legal proceedings.