Nine Killed as Tourist Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida

At least nine people were killed when a double-decker tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, officials said. The Bihar-registered bus was travelling from Noida to Mahoba and was carrying more than 30 passengers when the blaze broke out late at night, while most of those on board were asleep.

Passengers who managed to escape described a chaotic and terrifying scene. One survivor said he was woken by someone banging on the door and found a large crowd already gathered inside the vehicle. He left without collecting his belongings, not even his shoes, and was pulled out by another person amid heavy shoving. "It was so smoky that nothing was visible," he said, adding that people were suffocating inside and that only those who could push their way out managed to escape.

Another passenger said he was woken by a fellow traveller shouting that the bus had caught fire. "We all scrambled to get out. It was not an easy situation to escape from. There was a lot of smoke. We somehow managed to get out in a state of panic. The bus was packed with passengers," he said.

Several passengers jumped out through the bus windows as flames and thick smoke engulfed the vehicle. Visuals from the spot showed the bus completely charred, with fire brigade teams working to douse the flames and rescue those still trapped.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Reports suggest it may have been triggered by a short-circuit. A preliminary report indicated that the bus was carrying a large quantity of luggage, including baggage loaded on its roof.

The incident has renewed concerns about safety standards and negligence among double-decker bus operators.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of those who died and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured.