A major fire incident was averted in Nalgonda district early Saturday morning when a private travel bus caught fire, but all 36 passengers on board were safely evacuated. The bus was traveling from Hyderabad to Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
The incident occurred around 5:30 am near Peddakaparthi village in Chityala mandal. Flames suddenly erupted from the vehicle, and the driver and cleaner acted swiftly upon noticing smoke and fire. They managed to evacuate all passengers before the fire spread.
Within minutes, the entire bus was engulfed in flames. A fire tender from the local fire station arrived at the scene and brought the blaze under control. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
According to a fire official, preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, though the exact cause is yet to be confirmed. The bus was completely gutted, resulting in an estimated loss of about ₹36 lakh, as informed by the vehicle owner.
The fire department has launched an inquiry into the incident to determine the precise cause and prevent such occurrences in the future.
