Overview
- A Bihar‑registered double‑deck sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire near the 33‑km mark on the Yamuna Expressway late on Wednesday night, leaving nine passengers dead and about 20–25 people rescued.
- Survivors said most passengers were asleep when thick smoke filled the vehicle and many escaped by jumping through windows, while firefighters extinguished the blaze and recovered nine bodies inside the bus.
- An FIR by a passenger alleges people smelled burning and warned the crew before flames erupted, and police have arrested the driver and conductor on charges that include gross negligence.
- Preliminary fire‑service and police investigations point to a short circuit or fault around the bus air‑conditioning/engine area that may have ignited lubricating oil, but forensic confirmation of the exact cause is still pending.
- The prime minister and Uttar Pradesh chief minister announced ex‑gratia payments for victims and the case has focused attention on safety practices for overnight sleeper services and on the need for faster on‑board responses to fire warnings.