Bareilly (UP), March 16 Strong winds on Sunday night caused a high-tension power line to snap and fall on a roadways bus in the Baheri area here, causing the vehicle to catch fire and a helper sleeping inside sustaining severe burn injuries, police said.
According to police, the incident occurred late on Sunday near the roadways bus stand located on the Pilibhit-Baheri road. As soon as the wire landed on the bus, sparks flew, causing a fire which quickly engulfed the vehicle.
Circle Officer (Baheri) Arun Singh on Monday said the owner of a local tea stall immediately alerted the power substation and ensured that electricity supply was cut off. Simultaneously, the fire department and the police were also called.
The team managed to bring the fire under control, but by that time, a major portion of the bus had been gutted.
The helper – Annu (28), a resident of Pilibhit district – who was sleeping inside the bus and was caught in the inferno, was rescued and rushed to a local private hospital, the officer said.
He was subsequently referred to the district hospital in Bareilly due to his critical condition, he added.