Overview

• A private sleeper bus traveling from Begusarai to Delhi caught fire near Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, killing five people, including two children.
• Initial investigations suggest the fire began due to a short circuit in the gearbox, quickly engulfing the bus within minutes.
• The emergency exit door failed to open, trapping passengers in the rear; an extra seat near the front obstructed escape efforts.
• Firefighters arrived promptly and controlled the blaze within 30 minutes, but the rapid spread left little time for rescue.
• The driver reportedly smashed the windshield to escape and fled the scene; authorities have launched a formal investigation.