Nine Killed as Sleeper Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida (2026-09-24)

Nine people died and several others were injured when a sleeper tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida. The Bihar-registered vehicle was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba and was carrying more than 35 passengers when the blaze broke out.

Warnings ignored, alleges FIR

The first information report records that passengers had complained of a burning smell in the bus shortly before the fire, while the driver and conductor continued to smoke. According to the FIR, passengers had earlier objected to the two smoking inside the vehicle, and were laughed at and warned to stay quiet.

When passengers raised the smell with the driver, he and the conductor dismissed it, saying such odours were common on the bus. The driver did not stop for a check despite repeated requests, the FIR states. When flames appeared at the front of the vehicle and passengers began shouting, the driver told them he would not halt the bus and did not care if they died, according to the complaint.

Fire spread rapidly

A preliminary investigation found that the fire began with a blast in the bus's air-conditioning system, which ignited the engine's lubricating oil and caused the flames to spread quickly. Thick smoke filled the vehicle, making escape difficult. Visuals from the scene showed the bus gutted, with fire brigade teams working to douse the flames and rescue those on board.

The driver and conductor survived and have been detained for questioning.

Survivors describe chaos

A 64-year-old woman travelling to Mahoba after her mother-in-law's death said passengers ran over her as they scrambled to get out. She said her husband could not rise in time and suffered a broken leg. Another passenger said she was asleep when the fire broke out and fled without her belongings, grabbing only her phone. She recalled being shoved in the crush before someone pulled her out, and said only those who could push their way through managed to escape.

Compensation announced

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced similar compensation and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Pending fines on the bus

Records show the bus, bearing registration number BR32PA8647, had more than 60 challans for traffic rule violations, with over Rs 1.7 lakh still unpaid. The most recent fine, of Rs 18,500, was issued on August 19 in Delhi's Mayur Vihar.