Timely intervention of KSRTC staff saves 44 as Kozhikode-bound bus catches fire near Mysuru

Sulthan Bathery: The timely alertness of KSRTC staff saved 44 passengers after a Bengaluru–Kozhikode bus caught fire on an isolated stretch near Nanjangud in the early hours of Thursday.

The bus had left Bengaluru around 11 pm when the driver noticed a smoky smell while travelling between Mysuru and Nanjangud. He immediately halted the vehicle, and thick smoke was soon seen billowing from beneath the bus, with flames spreading rapidly.

According to Muhammed, a passenger, the driver and conductor acted swiftly, alerting everyone on board and ensuring a safe evacuation. Many passengers were asleep at the time but were woken up and asked to step down immediately. Some tried to retrieve their belongings but were discouraged and pulled out to safety.

The fire broke out in a deserted area with no nearby houses or shops. Prasobh, a KSRTC official from Kozhikode, said the bus belonged to the Kozhikode depot and that an inquiry had been initiated to determine the cause of the fire.

“As the incident occurred in a completely isolated area, there were no facilities to douse the fire,” he said. “Although attempts were made after ensuring the passengers’ safety, they were unsuccessful, and the bus was reduced to a skeletal frame.”

Several passengers lost passports, mobile phones, bags, clothes and other valuables in the blaze. They later continued their journey to Kozhikode in other KSRTC buses. A team from the Sulthan Bathery KSRTC depot reached the spot in the early hours of the morning.