A tragic incident occurred late Thursday night on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway in the Tarana area of Ujjain district, where a four-year-old child was burnt to death after an intercity express bus parked at a hotel caught fire. The bus, a sleeper coach traveling from Indore to Gwalior, had stopped for tea and snacks at Hotel Jain Path, approximately 20 kilometers from Shajapur town, when smoke began rising from the bonnet. Within minutes, the fire engulfed the entire vehicle.
Details of the Incident
Tarana Station House Officer (SHO) RNS Bhaduria confirmed that the incident took place about 15 kilometers from the police station. The bus driver had kept the engine running, and the fire was most likely caused by a spark near the engine. Passengers alleged that the smell of burning wires had been present for much of the journey and that some had warned the driver, who ignored their concerns. Passenger Malti Sharma stated that the tragedy could have been averted if the driver had stopped for a check in time.
Chaos and Rescue Efforts
In the ensuing chaos, passengers broke open windows to escape. The child, identified as Anya Jain, was pushed under a seat during the stampede and could not get out. His body was recovered nearly two hours later and sent for postmortem examination to Shajapur district hospital, according to SHO Bhaduria. The child’s father, Abhishek Jain, who was traveling with his wife and two children to Shivpuri, expressed his anguish, stating that the bus had neither an emergency exit nor a fire extinguisher. He said, “My child burnt to death. I fold my hands before the media — no other child should die like this. My future has been burnt.” He also alleged that the first fire engine to arrive had no water.
Response and Investigation
Five fire tenders from Maksi, Tarana, and Shajapur eventually doused the blaze. The bus driver and cleaner fled the scene. Police from Maksi and Tarana stations reached the spot. Jain later handed over jewelry recovered from the burnt bus to the police. Police have registered the death, and the cause of the fire is being investigated.
