On the late night of February 8, 2026, a young bus staff member in the Vikaspuri area of West Delhi died in a fatal fire. The victim was sleeping inside a newly deployed private bus that had been completely gutted in the fire.
A Final Sleep: The Vikaspuri Tragedy
The incident took place near the Janakpuri Fish Market in Vikaspuri during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The victim, Sunil Sharma, aged 25, was a helper/conductor on a private bus.
The Sequence of Events
Police reported that Sunil had finished his shift and decided to sleep inside the bus for the night. He is said to have set incense sticks (agarbatti) or a mosquito coil before sleeping to fight mosquitoes and make the environment pleasant.
- The Outbreak: Around 12:33 AM, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received an emergency call reporting a massive fire. When three fire tenders arrived, the vehicle was completely destroyed by fire.
- The Rescue Attempt: Firefighters fought the blaze for over an hour. When they finally extinguished the fire, they discovered Sunil's charred remains inside the wreckage. As the fire spread aggressively through the seating and fuel lines, he had been unable to flee the locked vehicle.
- The Vehicle: Investigators said that the bus, with a Haryana registration number, was nearly brand new — it had been on the road for just 28 days.
Preliminary Investigation: A Simple Spark
The Delhi Police and fire officials have launched a joint probe into the cause of the disaster. Technical malfunctions (such as a short circuit) are being considered, but the main suspect is an unattended incense stick.
VIDEO | Delhi: Bus conductor dies after a mosquito coil sparks fire in a bus in Vikaspuri.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 9, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/OXKLIGtzom
"Preliminary evidence indicated that the incense stick set off the seat covers or flammable materials within the cabin while the victim was asleep. The fire probably consumed oxygen and spread too quickly for him to find the way out,” said a senior police official.
Aftermath and Safety Concerns
The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination at a nearby hospital. The incident comes after a string of recent warnings by the Delhi Transport Department of safety violations in private and sleeper buses, including using open flames or cooking equipment inside vehicles.
Commuter and Staff Safety Advisory
The authorities have reminded bus operators of the following:
- Strict policy against incense sticks, coils, and smoking inside vehicles.
- Emergency Exits: Ensure all emergency hammers and exits are accessible even when the bus is parked.
- Fire Extinguishers: Regular testing to confirm on-board extinguishers are working.
