Srinagar, Sep 24 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the tragic loss of lives in the bus fire accident on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida.
The Chief Minister, as per extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a swift and complete recovery.
At least nine passengers, including a woman, were killed and over 20 others rescued after an AC double-decker sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar in Greater Noida late Wednesday night.
Officials said the bus bearing registration number BR32PA8647 of Raj Kalpana Travels was on its way from Kashmere Gate, Delhi to Mahoba on UP-Bihar border carrying around 30-40 passengers when it caught fire near the 33-km milestone at Dayanatpur village under Jewar police station around 11 pm.
According to Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar, preliminary investigation suggests a spark or blast in the air-conditioning system led to engine lubricant oil catching fire, following which the blaze spread rapidly, trapping sleeping passengers inside.
Panicked passengers broke window panes and jumped out amid thick smoke to save their lives. Police and five fire tenders rushed from Jewar toll plaza and brought the fire under control. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and efforts are underway to identify the deceased.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have also condoled the tragedy and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
