It was on the early hours of today, when a private sleeper bus from Bengaluru caught fire and was wiped out entirely by flames. Despite the intensity of the fire, 40 people on board managed to escape just moments before the vehicle had completely caught fire.
The crash took place in the vicinity of Hanumantapura Gate, Nelamangala taluk and the time of the accident was around 3:30 AM. This bus, part of ‘Sanjana Travels,’ was on a trip from Bengaluru to Kalaburagi. The highway is currently being heavily expanded over 10 lanes, causing traffic movement to be slow on some parts of it according to testimony and preliminary police coverage.
The driver of the bus apparently lost control as it headed down a narrow lane near this construction site. The bus veered off the lane and hit an electric pole on the road.
The Blaze: Racing Against Time
The crash with the electric pole suddenly short-circuited; the bus's fuel lines were instantly ignited. “We were all asleep when we had a massive jolt. Within moments, the cabin smelled of burning rubber and smoke. The driver began yelling for everyone to get out at once,” recalled one of the survivors.
The presence of mind from the driver was life-saving. He stopped the motor vehicle and helped the passengers evacuate through the main door and emergency exits. Within minutes of the final passenger stepping onto the tarmac, the blaze spread over the bus’s chassis, transmuting the bus itself into a towering smoldering fire.
Response and Aftermath
The Nelamangala Fire Brigade responded in time after receiving the distress call. Although they were able to extinguish the flames and prevent fire from spreading to adjacent construction equipment or other vehicles, the bus was reduced to a dried-out skeleton of charred metal. Following the incident, the Nelamangala Traffic Police arrived to manage traffic congestion on the busy NH-48.
The matter has been logged, and the authorities are currently conducting a report on whether the accident resulted from construction-related road conditions only, or whether the wreck was caused by mechanical failure. Fortunately, no major or minor injuries were reported. Passengers were later offered other means of transport to continue their journey to Kalaburagi.
