Greater Noida. Late last night a sleeper bus travelling the Yamuna Expressway caught fire close to the Jewar Airport, resulting in nine fatalities and a number of serious burn injuries. Emergency crews, police and local officials rushed to the scene to launch a large‑scale rescue operation.
How the disaster unfolded
According to early reports, the vehicle had set out from Kashmiri Gate in Delhi bound for Rath, a town in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, carrying roughly 30‑35 passengers. At about 11:30 p.m. the bus reached the kilometre‑33 marker while heading from Noida toward Agra.
Passengers began to notice a strong, acrid odor emanating from the cabin. One traveller, Sunil Kumar of Rath, filed a complaint stating that both the driver and the conductor were warned but the bus was not halted for an inspection.
Moments later, flames erupted near the driver’s seat and quickly engulfed the interior, giving occupants little chance to escape. While a few managed to flee, many were trapped inside the inferno.
In total, nine passengers perished and several others suffered severe burns. The blaze also caused panic among motorists travelling the expressway, and a video showing the bus ablaze quickly circulated online.
Rescue and investigation
Jewar police arrived promptly, securing the site and commencing relief operations. The deceased were taken into custody for formal procedures. Investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire and are probing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Official reactions
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directives
CM Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow for the victims and instructed authorities to provide immediate medical care to the injured and comprehensive assistance to the bereaved families.
President Droupadi Murmu’s condolence
President Murmu posted a statement on X describing the tragedy as “deeply distressing” and extended her condolences to the families, also wishing a swift recovery to those wounded.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s tribute
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh labelled the incident “tragic”, offering his sympathies to the victims’ relatives and urging prompt medical attention for the survivors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relief package
Prime Minister Modi expressed his grief over the loss of life and announced ex‑gratia assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: ₹2 lakh for each family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for every injured passenger.
"Our thoughts are with the families affected by this heartbreaking incident. The government will ensure they receive the support they deserve," said the Prime Minister.
