9 Killed After Sleeper Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway Near Greater Noida

At least nine people were killed after an AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar in Greater Noida late Wednesday night, September 23.

The bus, operated by Raj Kalpana Travels, was travelling from Delhi towards Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh with around 30–35 passengers on board. The fire broke out near the 33-kilometre mark of the Yamuna Expressway at around 11:30 pm, according to reports.

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰
According to an FIR filed at Jewar police station, passengers noticed a burning smell coming from the driver's cabin and reportedly alerted the driver and conductor. The complaint alleges that the warnings were not acted upon immediately.

The FIR further alleges that flames subsequently erupted near the driver's seat and rapidly spread through the bus. Several passengers managed to escape, including by jumping through windows, while others became trapped inside the burning vehicle.

𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝
Police and emergency teams reached the scene after receiving information about the fire. Several passengers suffered burn injuries and were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar for treatment.

The nine people who died included one woman and eight men, according to police reports.

𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝

Police have registered a case and arrested people connected with the bus following the incident. The investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine responsibility.
Initial reports have raised the possibility of an electrical or AC-related fault, but authorities have not yet established the definitive cause of the blaze.

𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for each injured passenger from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
The incident has prompted renewed concerns about passenger safety and emergency preparedness in long-distance sleeper buses.