Tragic Bus Fire Near Lucknow Claims Five Lives, Including Two Children; Emergency Exit Malfunction Cited
In a heartbreaking incident on the outskirts of Lucknow early Thursday morning, five people — including two young children — lost their lives after a private passenger bus caught fire while traveling along the Kisan Path highway in the Mohanlalganj area.
The vehicle, which was reportedly on its way from Begusarai in Bihar to Delhi, was carrying close to 80 passengers at the time of the accident.
According to information provided by the police, the fire broke out suddenly around 5 a.m. while most passengers were asleep, which severely limited their ability to react in time.
Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit in the vehicle’s gearbox may have triggered the blaze, although a full technical investigation is underway to determine the definitive cause.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mohanlalganj) Rajneesh Verma stated, “Initial inquiry points toward a short circuit in the gearbox area being responsible for the outbreak of fire. Further analysis will confirm this.”
Tragically, the fire spread rapidly throughout the bus, engulfing it in flames and giving passengers little time to escape. While a majority of the travelers managed to exit the vehicle, five individuals — two women, a man, and two children — became trapped and succumbed to the blaze on the spot.
Several other passengers sustained injuries in the chaos and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The identities of the deceased have since been confirmed as Lakkhi Devi (55), Soni Mahto (26), Madhusudan (21), and two young children, Devraj (3) and Sakshi (2). All five were reportedly seated toward the rear of the bus, where access to an emergency exit could have been a lifesaving option.
However, according to both eyewitness accounts and the police report, the emergency exit door failed to function during the crisis. This critical failure is believed to have significantly contributed to the fatalities.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene, with some claiming that the bus continued moving even after the fire broke out. “The flames could be seen from almost a kilometer away,” one witness said, highlighting the intensity of the fire. Others recalled the screams of passengers desperately trying to escape, with many jumping out of windows to avoid the fire.
Firefighting teams arrived promptly at the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control within 30 minutes. Despite their swift response, the vehicle was destroyed, reduced to a blackened metal shell by the intensity of the fire.
In response to the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed profound grief and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
In an official statement shared through his office’s social media channels, the Chief Minister directed district and local authorities to ensure that all injured passengers receive immediate and high-quality medical care.
He also instructed officials to expedite relief operations and provide necessary support to those affected.
A formal investigation has been initiated to verify the exact cause of the fire and examine whether proper safety measures, particularly regarding the emergency exit system, were in place.
Authorities are expected to scrutinize the maintenance records of the bus and assess whether negligence played a role in this devastating incident.
This tragedy has once again brought attention to the pressing need for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety standards and routine inspections, especially for long-distance buses transporting a large number of passengers.
As the investigation progresses, both the public and officials await answers that may help prevent such a catastrophe from occurring again.
