Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Nine Killed in Sleeper Bus Fire Near Jewar
A sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire at night.
It was carrying about 30 to 40 people, many of whom were sleeping.
Passengers said they smelled something burning and warned the bus workers.
The fire then started near the front of the bus and spread quickly.
Thick smoke made it difficult to see and breathe.
Some people escaped through doors or windows, while others were rescued by firefighters.
Nine passengers died from burns or suffocation, and several others were hurt.
Police arrested the driver and conductor and are investigating what happened.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether an electrical problem or another cause started the fire.
Families of those who died and injured passengers were promised financial assistance.
A Raj Kalpana Travels sleeper bus traveling from Delhi to Mahoba caught fire near the 33-kilometre mark of the Yamuna Expressway around 11:20–11:30 p.m. on September 23.
The bus carried approximately 30–40 passengers, most of whom were asleep when flames reportedly erupted near the driver’s cabin.
Nine passengers—eight men and one woman—died from burns and suffocation, while more than 20 people escaped or were rescued and several were injured.
A passenger’s complaint alleged that the driver and conductor ignored warnings about a burning smell and continued smoking in the cabin before the fire spread.
Police arrested the driver and conductor and registered a case; the exact cause remains under investigation, with preliminary reports citing a short circuit or air-conditioning-system spark.
- Who
- Nine passengers died, several others were injured, and police arrested the bus driver and conductor; one report referred to two drivers and a conductor being arrested.
- What
- A Raj Kalpana Travels sleeper bus caught fire, killing nine passengers and injuring several others.
- When
- Around 11:20–11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, with the deaths reported early Thursday, September 24.
- Where
- Near the 33-kilometre milestone in the Jewar police station area on the Yamuna Expressway, near Jewar Airport in Greater Noida.
- Why
- The exact cause is undetermined; preliminary accounts cited a short circuit or a spark or blast in the air-conditioning system, while investigators are examining possible crew negligence.
Passenger allegations
Official and investigative position
Response to warnings
Passenger allegations
The FIR and survivor accounts alleged that passengers reported a burning smell and smoke, but the driver and conductor dismissed the warnings, failed to stop promptly, and continued smoking in the cabin.
Official and investigative position
Police arrested the driver and conductor and registered a case, but the investigation must still establish whether their conduct legally amounted to negligence or contributed to the deaths.
Cause of the fire
Passenger allegations
The complaint and survivor accounts placed the initial flames near the driver’s seat and alleged that delayed action allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
Official and investigative position
Preliminary official accounts cited a possible short circuit or a spark or blast in the air-conditioning system that may have ignited engine lubricant; officials have not confirmed the cause.
Passenger escape and rescue
Passenger allegations
Survivors described thick smoke, panic, crowding, suffocation, and difficult escapes through windows or doors, with some passengers jumping from the bus.
Official and investigative position
Fire and police teams said they rescued or evacuated more than 20 passengers, while nine people were found dead inside after the fire was extinguished.
- Deaths
- Nine passengers died, including eight men and one woman; officials attributed the deaths to burns and suffocation.
- Passengers aboard
- Reports estimated approximately 30–40 passengers, with several accounts specifying 30–35 or about 35.
- Route
- Kashmere Gate in New Delhi to Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh.
- Operator
- Raj Kalpana Travels.
- Rescue
- More than 20 passengers were rescued or escaped; fire teams and police extinguished the blaze.
- Arrests and charges
- The driver and conductor were arrested. Police registered a case including allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash or negligent driving.
- Compensation
- The Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister announced Rs 2 lakh for each deceased passenger’s family and Rs 50,000 for each injured passenger.
- Investigation
- Police are examining the bus, survivor statements, the fire’s cause, and whether warnings and safety procedures were ignored.
Sources
9 Killed On Yamuna Expressway, FIR Alleges Driver Ignored Burning Smell
9 killed in expressway bus fire near Jewar airport, driver and conductor arrested
Greater Noida Bus Fire: Driver And Conductor Arrested After 9 Passengers Killed In Yamuna Expressway Blaze Near Jewar
Nine killed, many injured as sleeper bus catches fire on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida
'They Laughed When We Complained': 2 Drivers, Conductor Arrested Over Bus Fire That Killed 9 In Greater Noida - VIDEO
Burning smell, ignored warnings: 9 killed as bus catches on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida
