Panipat, 31 October 2024 — A private bus carrying nearly 350 passengers caught fire under mysterious circumstances on National Highway-44 near Samalakha in Panipat on Wednesday, injuring eight workers, with four in critical condition. The critically injured have been transferred to Khanpur PGI for further treatment.
According to officials, the incident took place as the bus was traveling from Panipat to Delhi, suddenly erupting in flames on the Samalkha flyover. The driver immediately halted the vehicle and directed the passengers to exit, leading to a chaotic scramble as people rushed to escape the burning bus. Bystanders quickly gathered, and emergency services were notified.
The fire brigade responded promptly, containing the flames and preventing further casualties. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, though some employees at the scene suggested it might have been ignited by an explosion of flammable materials inside the bus.
The incident led to a significant traffic jam along NH-44, which the traffic police managed to clear after considerable effort.
