Investigation Launched After Fatal Bus Blaze on Greater Noida Route

Authorities have opened a comprehensive investigation following a deadly fire on a double‑decker sleeper bus that was plying the Yamuna Expressway near Greater Noida on September 24. The blaze killed nine passengers and injured many more, raising urgent questions about the enforcement of transport regulations.

Documentation obtained by investigators shows that the bus was already facing 19 unpaid traffic citations amounting to roughly ₹1.75 lakh. These included a ₹18,500 fine on 19 August for an illegal rooftop load, a ₹6,900 penalty on 7 April for the driver lacking a licence and proper attire, and a ₹15,000 charge for operating without a valid permit. Additional fines dated from January through July reflect a persistent pattern of rule breaches.

Preliminary technical reports indicate that a malfunction in the air‑conditioning unit caused a sudden explosion, which then set fire to the engine’s lubricating oil. The resulting inferno quickly overtook the bus’s upper deck, where many passengers were sleeping, leaving them little time to escape. Witnesses described frantic scenes of commuters breaking windows and scrambling out as smoke filled the cabin. Emergency responders rescued over twenty individuals and rushed the injured to nearby hospitals.

The ongoing probe will scrutinise the bus’s fitness certificate, the driver’s qualifications, the status of its operating permit, and the series of fines that should have grounded the vehicle. Officials stress that accountability and stricter enforcement are essential to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.