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Kolkata: A tragedy that unfolded on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor, where a private sleeper coach was engulfed in flames after colliding with a two-wheeler in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday morning has sent shock waves among major bus operators in Kolkata. Transport department officers have asked bus operators to strictly adhere to safety protocols issued by the state govt.The fire reportedly began when the bike went under the bus and its fuel cap came off, generating sparks that ignited the interior of the bus. Authorities say the door could not be opened due to a short circuit, and many passengers were asleep when the inferno began, giving them little chance to escape.In Kolkata, major inter-state bus operators, like Shyamoli Paribahan, Greenline Paribahan, Expressline Raipur Cruiser, and Loknath Bus Service, reiterated their commitment to stringent safety protocols -- from limiting speed, enforcing no-flammables rules, maintaining fire extinguishers and emergency exits, and re-training drivers and staff. "Vehicle maintenance is non-negotiable for us. The jammed door and rapid spreading of fire in the Hyderabad tragedy suggest mechanical or electrical failure, as well as combustible materials inside the coach. We have prohibited any liquid substance on our buses," said Subhasish Roy of Greenline.Emergency exit readiness is critical. Passengers must be aware of how to respond during a crisis; windows should be easily breakable; exit routes must remain unobstructed at all times. "We have instructed our crew to give passengers a short safety briefing at the beginning of every journey," said a senior manager at Expressline.Night journeys magnify the risk. "Many were asleep at the time of the accident; visibility, reaction time, and evacuation was harder. We have asked bus operators to take extra precautions and maintain safe speed during night trips," said a transport officer."Transport department officers must ask hard questions. Are fire extinguishers checked monthly? Are emergency hammers present and accessible? Are cabin interiors -- seat covers and panels -- fire-retardant? Are drivers trained to respond at night, and are tenders to the driver's cabin free of baggage or flammables? I asked these questions to operators and never found satisfactory answers," said Abhirup Ghosh, who travels by bus to his ancestral home in Malda every fortnight.
Vijayawada: In the wake of the recent Kurnool bus accident that claimed 19 lives, the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department has intensified its state-wide enforcement drive to ensure safety compliance among private travel buses operating with All India Permits. Over the last two days, officials have registered 289 violation cases, seized 18 buses, and collected Rs 7.08 lakh in compounding fees. They are inspecting the buses to find out whether they are having valid documents and their validity also like registration certificate, regular permit, All India Permit, insurance, pollution, fitness c ...Read More >
Srinagar- Amid a sharp rise in fire incidents across the Kashmir Valley, particularly Srinagar, the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department has urged residents not to park their vehicles on roads and lanes during night hours. Officials said that haphazard parking on narrow roads and residential lanes has become a serious obstacle for fire tenders and emergency vehicles, often delaying crucial rescue and firefighting operations. "Vehicles parked on the roads not only obstruct movement but also create immense inconvenience for emergency services. In many localities, fire tenders are unabl ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The ill-fated Kaveri Travels bus was found to have multiple violations as far as safety was concerned. The bus, which was registered with a capacity of 43 seats according to Vahan data, was converted into a sleeper coach. According to Central Motor Vehicle (CMV) rules, sleeper buses should get approval from the registration authority for layout of seats and measurements of the bus body, including height, width, and length.The bus also lacked adequate fire safety mechanisms. Sleeper buses should have four emergency exits, including two roof hatches. They should also have a fire alar ...Read More >
A bus fire near Thaiyat village in Jaisalmer claimed 20 lives. Authorities have released helpline numbers for the public to assist in identifying victims and supporting affected families. DNA identification efforts are underway, with an expert team en route to Jodhpur. A day after 20 passengers were killed after a bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire on Tuesday, authorities in the District Administration of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer have issued their respective helpline numbers for t ...Read More >
A massive fire erupted at a bar in Bhubaneswar this morning. Thick plumes of smoke were seen on the top floor of the building that houses the bar, in horrifying visuals from the Satya Vihar area in Odisha's capital this morning. No casualties were reported. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control before it could spread to nearby buildings in the densely populated area. It is now being probed if the fire was caused by a short circuit or some other reason, even as the exact cause re ...Read More >
New Delhi: A firefighter was injured after a massive fire broke out at a building in North Delhi's Sadar Bazar on Saturday afternoon.According to officials, the incident was reported at 3:49 pm. A total of 27 fire tenders and over 100 firefighters rushed to the spot, located in the Main Market of Sadar Bazar.The fire reportedly started on the first floor of the building and quickly spread to three upper floors. The area, known for its dense crowds and congested lanes, posed additional challenges for firefighting efforts.The injured firefighter is identified as Yogender, who is posted at the Sa ...Read More >
Kota, Jun 6 (PTI) A relationship manager in an ICICI bank branch in Kota allegedly swindled around Rs 4.58 crore from customers' accounts only to lose the lot of it in the stock market, police on Friday said. She was arrested last week and is currently under judicial custody, they said. Also Read | Bengaluru Stampede: Police Complaint Lodged Against Virat Kohli Over Stampede Tragedy Near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The accused, Sakshi Gupta, was posted as a relationship manager at ICICI Bank's DCM branch. Police said she had been pilfering from more than 110 accounts belonging to 41 customers for ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) "Bhaiya ab saans phool raha. Kuch karo...(Brother I am short of breath now. Do something)," that was the last message Kumar Dhirender Pratap managed to sent his elder brother -- a desperate cry for help from inside a smoke-filled elevator. Barely 48-hours after returning to Delhi to restart his UPSC preparations, the 25-year-old aspirant from Banaras found himself trapped in a lift at Vishal Mega Mart in Karol Bagh, as fire raged through the building. He had come back with hopes of a fresh start but instead, he died gasping for breath, waiting for help that came too la ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh road transport department has undertaken a statewide inspection of private buses, following the recent Kurnool bus mishap. Acting on directions from transport commissioner Manish Sinha, the authorities launched a two-day drive across the state to screen private vehicles for safety and compliance. Cases have been registered against 361 travel buses found violating administrative norms. During the checks, 40 buses were seized for serious breaches, while 63 buses were flagged for unauthorised alterations to their seating arrangements. Fines have been levied on ope ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: In the wake of the Kurnool bus tragedy that claimed 19 lives, the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department launched a massive statewide enforcement drive on Sunday to curb violations by private travel operators. The special operation, conducted across all districts, led to 361 cases being booked for various offences, while 40 private buses were seized for serious irregularities. The move follows the fatal accident near Chinnatekuru in Kurnool district, where a sleeper bus of Vemuri Kaveri Travels caught fire after a collision, exposing grave lapses in safety standards and regulatory vi ...Read More >
MUMBAI: A suspected short circuit on the ninth floor of JMS Business Centre, a commercial building in Jogeshwari west, ignited a fire that turned into an inferno within minutes on Thursday morning. But providence was on the side of the 27 people who were rescued. While there were no fatalities or injuries, falling shards of glass from window panes that kept blowing out put several lives in danger, including those on the street below and rescue personnel, who wrestled with the flames for four hours before extinguishing them. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) disaster ...Read More >
Lucknow: Quick thinking by bus driver Jagat Singh and his two aides, Shyam Sundar and Manish, saved the lives of 39 passengers when their Delhi-Gonda sleeper bus suddenly caught fire on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway early Sunday morning.Speaking to The Times of India, driver Jagat Singh recounted the harrowing moments before the bus was engulfed in flames. "Around 4:30 am, the rear tyre suddenly burst with a loud sound. I immediately pulled the bus to the side and got down to check. Within moments, thick smoke began rising from the rear," he said.Sensing danger, Jagat quickly tried to douse the ...Read More >
Kota: Two minor boys, including a TV child actor, allegedly died of suffocation after a fire broke out in their flat, early Sunday morning.The deceased were identified as Veer (8) and Shoriya (16), sons of Jitendra Sharma, a chemistry teacher at a coaching institute in the city. While Veer worked as a child actor, his brother, Shoriya, was preparing for IIT at a coaching institute. Their mother, Reeta Sharma, is also an actor and works in Mumbai.The fire broke out around 2am in flat number 403 on the fourth floor of Deepshree Apartments, located in the Anantpura police station area. Kota City ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Alerted by the private bus fire accident which claimed 19 lives on Friday in Kurnool district, the Telangana Road Transport Authority (RTA) and Hyderabad traffic police on Saturday conducted surprise inspections across the city and seized private travel buses for not adhering to the safety norms. Officials said that several violations were detected during the inspections and hefty penalties were imposed on private travel buses operating on long distance routes. Officials said that sleeper berths were found to be obstructing emergency exit doors in many buses. Fire extinguishers ins ...Read More >
Jaipur: The state transport department has given a deadline of Oct 31 to private bus operators to check all safety features in buses, such as installation of fire extinguishers and functional emergency exits. After a meeting with senior officials from the state transport department Friday, private bus operators called off their strike that they were planning to hold on Diwali. As part of the Safe Travel campaign, conducted by RTO Jaipur (I) to check vehicles ferrying school children, the transport department has asked private bus operators to follow safety guidelines before the department star ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a handcrafted silver filigree purse from Cuttack to First Lady of Ghana Lordina Mahama during his visit to the country. Meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans, it features delicate floral and vine motifs formed from fine silver wires, combining airy lightness with durability and elegance. Traditionally used in jewellery, Cuttack's filigree now adorns modern accessories like this purse, blending heritage with contemporary style. PM Modi arrived in Accra on Wednesday on a state visit to Ghana and was conferred with 'The Officer of the Orde ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Kurnool bus fire tragedy exposes a systemic failure rooted in compromised bus ergonomics, expired safety certifications and lax enforcement where profit-driven private operators routinely bypass national safety standards, leaving passengers trapped in death traps disguised as transport. The bus operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels had all critical documents, including fitness, insurance, tax, pollution and permits, that had expired for over a year and carried 16 pending traffic challans. Private buses, especially long-distance sleepers, often violate AIS-119 and AIS-052 (Automoti ...Read More >
Jaipur: The Jaipur Regional Transport Office (RTO) Saturday started a week-long inspection of long-distance buses following the bus fire on Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway which claimed 26 lives recently. Jaipur RTO-I has formed an expert committee to carry out these inspections."We are focusing on three things during this inspection. First, we are checking whether these buses have valid permits and other necessary clearances. Second, we are ensuring these buses do not use fake chassis or registration ...Read More >
New Delhi: Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, part owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa where 25 people were killed in a massive fire over a week ago, have been deported from Thailand to India. NDTV claims to have accessed visuals of the Luthra brothers at Bangkok airport. They are being brought back on an IndiGo flight (6E1064) - which is scheduled to depart from the airport at 1.45 pm (IST). Upon landing in Delhi, the two will be produced before the Patiala House Court, with officials seeking their transit remand, the channel has reported. A case of culpable homicide and negligenc ...Read More >