The Greater Noida bus accident left nine dead on the Yamuna Expressway, and police are probing a suspected AC fault.

Nine people died in the evening Great Noida bus accident as an AC sleeper bus caught fire of the Yamuna Expressway of the area of Jewar.

At a glance

What: A sleeper bus with 35 passengers caught fire around 11pm on Wednesday; 9 dead in Greater Noida bus fire.

Where: On the Yamuna Expressway, in the Jurisdiction of the Jewar police station, in the city of Greater Noida.

Cause and next steps: A preliminary examination points to a fault with the AC. Police are searching for the driver and conductor.

What happened on the Yamuna Expressway?

The bus with a Bihar registration was heading to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when the fire broke out, police said. The place was, Dayanatpur village in Jewar.

Some passengers, who smelled something burning, asked the driver to stop but it was too late. When the bus eventually stopped, the flames had engulfed it; 9 passengers including a woman couldn't get out. Most of the passengers were asleep as the sleeper bus catches fire.

"The bus was full of passengers," said one survivor.

What caused the fire?

The cause is said to be preliminary by the officials. Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar said a spark or blast in the air conditioning system may have set alight engine lubricant oil, which rapidly spread the fire. The investigation by the Greater Noida police offered the same explanation. Consider unconfirmed until the investigation is concluded.

Where are the driver and conductor?

Both fled before the police reached the site. "Efforts are on to nab them," said Station House Officer, Ajay Kumar Singh. A case will be registered and a detailed investigation conducted.

What are the authorities doing?

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the fire, expressed his condolences and spoke to the families of those killed, officials said. He directed that the families were assisted and the injured given proper treatment. More than 20 passengers were rescued from the bus and 9 victims found inside after the flames were put out.

Business Fortune concludes that the Noida bus fire serves as a stark reminder of the need for strict fire-safety compliance, timely emergency preparedness and stronger enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Sources

Deccan Herald · The Tribune · Business Standard · NewsX · Free Press Kashmir (PTI)