Nine killed as sleeper bus engulfed in flames on Yamuna Expressway

Nine passengers lost their lives when a sleeper bus travelling from Delhi to Bihar caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in the early hours of Thursday, according to police officials in Gautam Buddh Nagar.

The incident was reported near the 33-km milestone under the Jewar Police Station area. The bus was in transit to Bihar when the fire broke out during the intervening night, engulfing the vehicle and trapping occupants inside.

The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police confirmed the death toll, though the exact circumstances leading to the fire remained unclear. Emergency services responded to the incident, though details about the response time and rescue operations were not immediately available.

The incident adds to concerns over safety standards on intercity sleeper buses operating across Indian highways. Authorities have not yet released additional information regarding the identities of the deceased or the cause of the fire. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.