Greater Noida – Late last night a sleeper coach travelling the Yamuna Expressway caught fire near the Jewar Airport complex, resulting in nine fatalities and numerous burn injuries. Emergency responders, police and local officials rushed to the scene to contain the blaze and evacuate survivors.
According to early reports, the vehicle had set off from Kashmiri Gate in Delhi bound for Rath, a town in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, carrying roughly 30‑35 passengers. At around 23:30 hrs the bus approached kilometre 33 on the expressway, moving from Noida towards Agra.
Witnesses on board reported a strong smell of smoke emanating from the cabin. One passenger, Sunil Kumar of Rath, lodged a complaint stating that the driver and conductor were alerted but the bus was not halted for a thorough check. Moments later, flames ignited near the driver’s seat and rapidly engulfed the entire coach, giving occupants scant time to escape.
Rescue teams recovered nine bodies while several others sustained varying degrees of burns. The incident also caused panic among motorists travelling the highway, and a video circulating online shows the coach fully ablaze.
Jewar police arrived promptly after being notified, launching rescue and relief efforts and securing the remains for further investigation. The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Orders Immediate Care
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his sorrow to the victims’ families, directing state officials to provide prompt medical attention to the injured and comprehensive support to the bereaved.
President Droupadi Murmu Sends Condolences
President Droupadi Murmu conveyed deep grief over the tragedy in a post on X, describing the incident as “heart‑breaking” and extending her sympathies to the affected families while wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Also Condemns the Tragedy
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh labelled the loss of life as “tragic,” offering his condolences and urging authorities to expedite assistance for those impacted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Announces Ex‑Gratia Payments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the incident and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: ₹2 lakh for each family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for every injured passenger.
