Over 40 Passengers Escape Unhurt After Bus Catches Fire In Ranchi

More than 40 passengers had a narrow escape after a moving bus caught fire on the Ranchi–Lohardaga highway on Saturday evening, police said. The bus, which was travelling from Ranchi to Chatra, suddenly went up in flames near Mandar Bazar.

“There were nearly 45 passengers on board when the fire broke out. Thankfully, the driver stopped the bus in time and all passengers were safely evacuated,” police told PTI.

While a fire tender was dispatched to the spot, local shopkeepers had already managed to douse the flames before it spread further. No injuries were reported and no major damage was caused to luggage or goods, police said.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have started due to a short circuit near the battery box which quickly

spread because of chemical solutions stored on the bus.

The bus has been moved to the Mandar police station compound and arrangements were made to transport the stranded passengers to their destination. The bus owner has been summoned for questioning over missing safety measures, including the absence of fire extinguishers.

The incident comes a day after 20 people were killed when a Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district following a collision with a two-wheeler.