An AC sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway at Greater Noida late on Wednesday night, September 23, killing nine passengers and wounding several others, according to police. The incident occurred around 11 PM at Dayanatpur village near Dayanatpur village in Jewar region (Gautam Buddh Nagar district) of Gautam Buddh Nagar district.
Bus Catches Fire Around 11 PM
The private sleeper bus was on its way from Delhi to Mahoba when the fire broke out. There are reports that the vehicle was carrying approximately 35 passengers at the time, but the exact number of passengers is not yet known. It was also reported that many passengers were asleep when the fire began.
Faster than normal the flames spread through the bus, and thick smoke made it difficult to escape the bus. Some people made it out of the doors and windows on foot as panic struck in the vehicle.
Nine Passengers Killed
Police said nine people died, including one woman and eight men. Many other passengers were rescued and taken for medical help following the incident.
Survivors described a chaotic scene. One passenger told ANI she was asleep when another person alerted her about the fire. She said there was heavy smoke inside the bus and passengers struggled to escape.
Some passengers jumped through windows to save themselves as the flames quickly spread in the vehicle, as reported by passengers.
#WATCH | Greater Noida, UP | A passenger bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/6diWQ3dUcP
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2026
Driver and Conductor Arrested
Contrary to some early reports which claimed that the driver and conductor fled, later reports said that both were arrested by police. Jewar police registered a case in connection with the deaths and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
The exact cause of the blaze has not been determined. Police are investigating a possible short circuit in the air-conditioning system as one possibility, but the investigation is ongoing.
Rescue Operation Underway
Firefighters and police had reached the Yamuna Expressway at the time of the fire. Rescue workers were on the scene to contain the fire and evacuate people and save them.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to families of those who died and directed officials to provide the injured with medical treatment.
The Greater Noida bus fire is still under investigation and authorities will be able to determine the cause of the fire and circumstances of the tragedy.
