Jaipur, February 27 – A major tragedy was narrowly averted in Jaipur on Friday after a bus belonging to the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) caught fire near the Mansarovar RICO intersection.
Approximately 60 passengers on board were able to evacuate in time and escaped unharmed, although the bus was completely gutted within half an hour. The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m.
According to fire department officials, the bus had departed from the Sindhi Camp bus stand in Jaipur and was headed towards Kekri. While traveling towards Sanganer and crossing the Mansarovar RICO intersection, smoke was seen billowing from the vehicle, followed by visible flames.
Passengers said panic quickly spread inside the bus as the fire intensified. The driver, showing quick thinking, immediately pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and instructed passengers to disembark. Within minutes, all passengers had safely exited the bus.
Eyewitnesses said the flames rapidly engulfed the vehicle, turning it into a massive fireball.
Shakuntala Saini, a firefighter from the Mansarovar Fire Station, said the blaze was prima facie suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. The fire reportedly started in the wiring system and quickly spread to the engine compartment, intensifying due to fuel and other flammable materials.
Upon receiving information, two fire tenders from the Mansarovar Fire Station rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly 30 minutes before bringing the situation under control. By the time the fire was extinguished, the bus had been reduced to a charred shell.
Police and fire officials confirmed that no injuries or burn cases were reported. Traffic at the busy intersection was temporarily disrupted during the firefighting operation.
Authorities have initiated a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.