Fire Destroys Low-Floor Bus in East Delhi, No Casualties Reported

A low-floor cluster bus carrying around 50 passengers caught fire and was completely destroyed in East Delhi's Jagatpuri area. No injuries were reported. Officials suspect that an electrical short-circuit in the air conditioning system caused the fire. An investigation has been ordered to determine the precise cause.

A low-floor cluster bus ferrying around 50 passengers was completely destroyed after it caught fire in East Delhi's Jagatpuri area on Thursday morning, officials have confirmed.

Fortunately, no passengers were injured in the incident.

The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS) oversees the monitoring and management of cluster buses across the city.

An official inquiry has been ordered, and the bus will be examined by the manufacturer to determine the cause of the fire, a transport department official disclosed. 'This bus was just four-and-a-half years old. It is a matter of concern that a relatively new bus caught fire. The fire started from the back portion and despite efforts by the driver and the conductor to extinguish it, it spread,' the official added.

Station officer of Delhi Fire Services Anoop Singh confirmed that a call was received around 9:40 am regarding the fire, and three fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene. Initial investigations suggest that an electrical short-circuit in the vehicle's air conditioning system may have been the cause of the fire.

The bus, operating on route 340 from Central Secretariat to Seemapuri, faced a massive traffic jam at the Jagatpuri crossing due to the incident, impacting other commuters. Traffic police later managed to control the situation.

According to the city government's data, 30 buses have caught fire in Delhi over the past eight years, including four incidents in 2023. The frequent causes have been identified as short-circuits and engine overheating, with technical issues also flagged by drivers.

(With inputs from agencies.)