Sleeper Bus : Fire After Highway Collision in Rajasthan’s Bikaner District
Sleeper Bus: A sleeper coach carrying passengers from Jaipur to Bikaner was destroyed by fire early Wednesday after being involved in a road accident in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. The incident occurred in the pre-dawn hours and led to major disruption on the national highway, though all passengers managed to escape without loss of life.
Collision in Early Morning Hours
According to officials, the accident took place at around 5:15 a.m. in the Shri Dungargarh area. The sleeper bus was travelling at normal speed when it struck a trailer that had come to a halt on the highway. The impact was severe enough to trigger a fire almost immediately, engulfing the front section of the bus within moments.
Sequence of Events on the Highway
Preliminary information indicates that a truck moving ahead on the highway had earlier collided with a fodder-laden trailer. As a result of that collision, the trailer was left stationary in the middle of the road. The sleeper bus, approaching from behind, was unable to stop in time and rammed into the halted vehicle, setting off the chain of events that followed.
Fire Spreads Rapidly After Impact
Eyewitnesses reported that flames erupted soon after the collision, spreading quickly through the bus. The intensity of the fire caused panic among passengers, many of whom were asleep at the time of the crash. Within minutes, the vehicle was fully engulfed, leaving little opportunity to salvage personal belongings.
Automatic Locking System Causes Brief Panic
As the fire broke out, the bus’s automatic door-locking mechanism reportedly activated, preventing the main entrance from opening. This created a critical situation inside the vehicle, with passengers temporarily trapped as smoke and flames intensified. People present near the scene said the situation could have escalated rapidly if immediate action had not been taken.
Emergency Exit Enables Passenger Rescue
Local residents and bystanders acted swiftly and managed to open the emergency exit located at the rear of the bus. Through this exit, all passengers were evacuated safely before the fire spread further. Locals later noted that the presence of an emergency exit played a crucial role in preventing a major tragedy.
Driver Injured, Passengers Escape Unharmed
While no passenger fatalities were reported, the bus driver sustained injuries in the collision. He was given first aid at the site and later referred to a hospital in Bikaner for further treatment. Officials confirmed that none of the passengers suffered serious injuries during the evacuation.
Emergency Services Rush to Control Blaze
Police personnel and fire brigade teams reached the location shortly after receiving information about the accident. Several fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze, which took considerable time and effort to bring under control due to the presence of flammable material in the trailer and the bus structure itself.
Vehicles and Belongings Reduced to Ashes
The sleeper bus, the fodder-loaded trailer, and all luggage belonging to passengers were completely destroyed in the fire. Authorities said the damage was extensive, leaving no recoverable property from either vehicle involved in the incident.
Traffic Disruption on National Highway
Following the accident, traffic movement on the national highway came to a standstill for nearly two hours. Police diverted vehicles to alternate routes while fire and rescue operations were underway. Normal traffic flow was restored only after the burnt vehicles were removed and the road was cleared.
Investigation Underway
Officials have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and to assess whether safety protocols were followed. Further details are expected once the inquiry is completed.