Greater Noida, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed in the Greater Noida double-decker bus fire and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
Nine passengers, including a woman, died after the bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, while several others sustained serious injuries. The Chief Minister expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of all possible assistance.
Yogi also directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for those injured and wished them a speedy recovery.
According to officials, the bus was travelling from Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when it suddenly caught fire near the 33-km milestone on the Yamuna Expressway, within the limits of Jewar Police Station. The incident triggered panic among the passengers, with several reportedly jumping from the windows to escape the flames.
More than 30 passengers were travelling on the bus. Officials said more than 20 were safely evacuated, while nine passengers were trapped inside and died in the blaze, apparently due to burns or suffocation.
Senior police officials and local police personnel reached the spot along with a rescue tender and a fire tender stationed at the Jewar Toll Plaza. Four additional fire tenders and a fire service unit were deployed, and the blaze was subsequently brought under control.
Preliminary investigation suggests that a spark or blast in the bus’s air-conditioning system may have ignited lubricating oil in the engine, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
Police have taken the driver and conductor into custody and registered a case under relevant sections. Further legal proceedings are underway, officials said. The Jewar Police are also working to establish the identities of the deceased.
The incident has raised concerns over safety arrangements on long-distance buses. A preliminary report indicates that the bus was carrying a substantial quantity of luggage, including baggage loaded on its roof, prompting additional scrutiny of the vehicle’s safety arrangements.
Rescue personnel said the heavy smoke made it difficult to enter the bus, but police and fire service teams made strenuous efforts to reach the passengers trapped inside.
The incident has also renewed attention on emergency preparedness and passenger safety measures in long-distance buses, particularly in view of similar bus fires reported in the past.
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