India: Nine Killed in Deadly Sleeper Bus Fire
At least nine people were killed after a sleeper bus carrying 35 passengers caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, according to Indian media reports.
The bus was travelling from Noida towards another destination in Uttar Pradesh when it suddenly caught fire on the expressway.
Fire Engulfs Bus
According to media reports, the fire spread rapidly through the bus, engulfing the vehicle.
Police officials said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire may have started following an explosion in the bus’s air-conditioning system. The flames then spread rapidly due to engine oil.
Most of the passengers were reportedly asleep when the fire broke out.
Passengers who became aware of the blaze attempted to save their lives by jumping out through the bus’s doors and windows.
Driver Allegedly Ignored Passengers’ Warnings
According to an FIR accessed and reported by India Today, the bus driver allegedly ignored repeated warnings from passengers about a burning smell and refused to stop the vehicle even as flames erupted inside the bus.
Deadly bus fire | The driver of the bus that caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida allegedly ignored repeated warnings from passengers about a burning smell and refused to stop the vehicle even as flames erupted in the vehicle, according to the FIR accessed… pic.twitter.com/dgInQRaQoI
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) September 24, 2026
The FIR alleges that passengers had alerted the driver to the burning smell before the fire spread, but the vehicle continued travelling on the Yamuna Expressway.
Nine People Killed
Nine people, including a woman, were killed in the fire, according to reports.
Emergency services, police and ambulances rushed to the scene after being alerted to the incident.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, while the injured and the bodies of the victims were transported to hospital.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the cause of the fire and the allegations concerning the driver’s response to passengers’ warnings.
