A private bus caught fire at Hulikal Ghat in Karnataka on Saturday, but all passengers managed to escape unhurt. The incident occurred around 9:30 AM when the bus was plying on the ghat section. The driver noticed smoke emanating from the engine and immediately stopped the vehicle, alerting passengers to evacuate. Within minutes, the bus was engulfed in flames. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after an hour. The bus was completely destroyed in the fire. Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit in the engine compartment may have caused the fire. This is the second incident in a year that a bus plying on the Hulikal Ghat has caught fire. In a similar incident last year, a KSRTC bus had caught fire on the same stretch. However, no casualties were reported in either incident. Authorities have urged bus operators to ensure proper maintenance of vehicles, especially while plying on ghat roads. The Hulikal Ghat is a known accident-prone zone, and such incidents raise concerns about passenger safety. The police have registered a case and are investigating the matter further.
