Greater Noida Bus Fire: At least nine passengers died and several others got injured after a sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in the night hours of Wednesday. The Bihar number sleeper bus was going from Greater Noida to Mahoba and caught fire near Dayanatpur village soon after it began its journey. The survived passengers stated that the bus was filled with thick smoke, leading to panic among them.

Injured Rushed To Nearby Hospital

As per the reports, some of the total 35 passengers could not exit the bus due to the smoke and sudden rush, leading to multiple deaths and injury. The injured were later rushed to the nearby Kailash hospital, where they are being treated. The deceased include women, elderly people, and disabled children, reported Jagran, citing sources.

'Sounds Similar To Firecrackers Bursting'

The traffic at the Jewar toll and Falaida crossing was halted for about 20 minutes due to the scale of the fire to ensure safety. While the exact reason behind the incident is not known yet, some eyewitnesses said they heard sounds similar to the bursting of firecracker during the tragedy. The police, during its investigation, are likely to question the passengers to reach any conclusion.

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CM Yogi Expresses Condolences

While taking cognizance of the matter, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. The chief minister has directed the officials to take necessary steps and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. Apart from this, he also spoke to the families of the deceased and directed that all possible assistance be provided.

What Passengers Said?

The passengers stated that the visibility significantly reduced due to the smoke, adding that there was a huge rush at the exit gate and near the windows. "It was so smoky that nothing was visible; people were suffocating inside. Very few managed to escape, only those who could push their way out amidst the shoving...Many people lost their lives...There were quite a few people behind me who probably couldn't make it out, as I myself got out quite late," a female passenger was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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