Nine killed as sleeper bus catches fire on Delhi-bound expressway

A devastating fire aboard a sleeper bus on the Yamuna Expressway near Greater Noida claimed nine lives on Wednesday. The coach was traveling from Delhi to Mahoba when the incident occurred, leaving investigators searching for the cause of the blaze.

Passengers who survived the fire recounted detecting smoke and a burning smell inside the bus moments before flames engulfed the vehicle. According to witness accounts, travelers alerted the driver to the warning signs, but he allegedly declined to stop the bus despite their concerns.

Following the fire, both the driver and conductor fled the scene, complicating initial investigations into the incident. Authorities have launched a probe to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether negligence contributed to the loss of life.

The incident has reignited concerns about safety standards in interstate passenger transport. Survivors' accounts suggest that an immediate halt to the bus could potentially have prevented casualties, raising questions about driver training and emergency protocols in the long-distance bus industry.