Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Nine Killed After Bus Fire on Greater Noida Expressway
A bus traveling through Greater Noida caught fire while many passengers were inside.
Nine people died and several others were hurt.
Passengers said they smelled something burning before the fire started.
They alleged that the driver and conductor did not stop to check the bus.
The complaint also says they were smoking inside the vehicle.
When flames appeared, thick smoke made it difficult for people to escape.
Investigators said the fire may have started with a problem in the air-conditioning system that ignited oil.
Police detained the driver and conductor while they investigate what happened.
A sleeper tourist bus traveling toward Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine people and injuring several others.
Passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell and alleged that the driver and conductor dismissed their warnings while smoking inside the bus.
The complaint alleges the driver refused to stop, while flames later erupted near the front of the vehicle and smoke trapped passengers.
A preliminary investigation linked the fire to an air-conditioning-system blast that ignited engine lubricating oil, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The driver and conductor survived and were detained for questioning; authorities also found more than 60 traffic fines, with about ₹1.7 lakh unpaid.
- Who
- Passengers on a Raj Kalpana Travels bus, including nine people who died; the driver and conductor survived and were detained for questioning.
- What
- A sleeper bus caught fire, killing nine passengers and injuring several others.
- When
- The fire occurred early Thursday, after passengers reached around kilometre 33 at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday; the reports are dated September 24, 2026.
- Where
- The fire occurred on the Noida-Agra carriageway of the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The reported cause is under investigation. A preliminary finding cited an air-conditioning-system blast that ignited engine oil, while a passenger complaint alleged that warnings about a burning smell were ignored.
Passenger Allegations
Preliminary Investigation
Warnings and driver response
Passenger Allegations
A passenger complaint alleged that the driver and conductor ignored a burning smell, continued smoking, and refused to stop despite repeated warnings.
Preliminary Investigation
The reported investigation had not established the allegations as final findings; police were investigating possible negligence by the driver and conductor.
Likely source of the fire
Passenger Allegations
Passengers linked the emergency to flames appearing near the driver’s seat after warnings about a burning smell were dismissed.
Preliminary Investigation
A preliminary investigation said an air-conditioning-system blast ignited the engine’s lubricating oil, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
Escape from the bus
Passenger Allegations
Survivors said heavy smoke, crowding and panic made escape difficult, with some people jumping out or being pulled from the vehicle.
Preliminary Investigation
Emergency teams arrived after the fire began, but the reports do not provide a separate official account disputing the survivors’ descriptions.
- Deaths
- Nine passengers died, including a woman.
- Route
- The bus was traveling from Delhi toward Mahoba; one complaint said the passenger had boarded for Rath in Hamirpur district.
- Passengers
- Reports described between 30-35 and more than 35 people aboard.
- Emergency response
- The injured were taken to Kailash Hospital in Jewar, where doctors declared nine people dead.
- Compensation
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh for each deceased victim’s family and ₹50,000 for injured victims; Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced similar compensation.
- Traffic fines
- The bus had more than 60 traffic fines, with 20 unpaid and more than ₹1.7 lakh outstanding.
- Vehicle registration
- The bus was registered in Bihar under number BR32PA8647.
