GREATER NOIDA: The drivers of the sleeper bus that caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine passengers, on Thursday denied allegations that they were smoking inside the vehicle or ignored warnings about smoke.The bus, meanwhile, had nine pending traffic challans in Delhi, mostly for overspeeding and improper parking, news agency ANI reported.Three accused, including two drivers and a conductor, were sent to jail by a local court on Thursday in connection with the fire.While being escorted from the court, the drivers denied passengers’ allegations that they had been smoking beedis or cigarettes inside the bus.“We do not smoke at all. We never smoke beedis or cigarettes. These allegations are completely false,” one of the drivers said.Asked if passengers had alerted them about a burning smell or smoke, he said, “No, that is completely incorrect. Nothing of that sort was told to us.”The second driver also denied consuming tobacco products and said he suspected that an electrical malfunction had triggered the fire. “It seems a short circuit caused the fire,” he said, ANI reported.The bus’s traffic record also came under scrutiny after DCP Traffic (Central Range) K Ramesh said the vehicle had nine pending challans in Delhi, mostly for overspeeding and improper parking.Ramesh said the bus had a valid permit until October 26 and that traffic police regularly inspect vehicles for permit violations and mandatory safety equipment, including fire extinguishers.He said existing rules do not allow a vehicle to be impounded solely for unpaid challans, though recent amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules have introduced provisions to restrict certain services for persistent defaulters.The officer added that buses operating without a valid permit or those whose drivers do not meet the mandatory five-year driving experience requirement could be impounded, ANI reported.
Nine killed in Yamuna Expressway bus fire
The sleeper bus was travelling from Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi to Mahoba when it caught fire near the 33-kilometre milestone of the Yamuna Expressway around 11.30pm on September 23.According to the FIR registered at Jewar police station, around 30-35 passengers were travelling on the bus.Some passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell from the driver’s cabin and alerted the driver and conductor. The FIR alleges that they did not stop the bus immediately and continued smoking inside the cabin.The fire then spread rapidly through the vehicle, trapping several passengers inside, ANI reported.Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each of the nine deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured passenger.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also announced Rs 2 lakh for each deceased victim’s family and Rs 50,000 for the injured.The three accused were produced before a local court on Thursday and sent to jail as the investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths continued.(With agency inputs)
