The probe into the Yamuna Expressway bus fire has led to the arrest of a transport company manager after a sleeper bus caught fire on the highway, killing nine passengers. Police arrested Vikas, the manager of the transport agency, after investigators found that complaints about the vehicle had reportedly been raised before the fatal incident.

The bus caught fire while travelling from Kashmere Gate in Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh on September 23 at around 11:20 pm. A total of 35 passengers were on board when the vehicle caught fire near the 33-km mark of the Yamuna Expressway. The bus was travelling towards Mahoba from Kashmere Gate at the time of the incident.

Yamuna Expressway Bus Fire: Manager Arrested

Police summoned the manager from Kashmere Gate on Friday and arrested him after questioning. Vikas was produced before a court and sent to judicial custody for 14 days. His arrest took the total number of people arrested in the case to four.

Before Vikas’s arrest, police had arrested two drivers and a conductor. Authorities are investigating their role in the case, along with the role of the transport company manager.

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Staff Had Reportedly Flagged Problems With the Bus

According to the investigation, the driver and conductor had reportedly complained to the company about problems with the bus before the fatal incident. Manager Vikas allegedly received the complaints, including concerns related to the gearbox.

Police are examining whether the reported problems with the bus were rectified before the vehicle embarked on the long journey from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh. The bus belonged to Raj Kalpana Travel Agency, which is based in Madhya Pradesh. The vehicle was registered in Madhubani, Bihar.

How Did the Sleeper Bus Fire Occur?

The preliminary probe has examined a possible short circuit as one of the likely causes of the fire. Authorities are also considering other possible factors, including the load from the generator, LED lights and air conditioning system.

Officials are also examining whether combustible material inside the bus may have contributed to the fire. Other possibilities under investigation include cigarette disposal, heat generated by a mobile phone and the speed of the vehicle.

However, police have not yet established the exact cause of the fire. The investigation into the incident is still underway.

Police Investigate Bus Safety and Previous Complaints

Authorities are examining the vehicle’s safety, maintenance records and other related matters. Police are also looking into the vehicle’s history and whether required maintenance and safety checks had been completed before it began the fatal journey.

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The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department is assisting police with the investigation. According to reports, a technical scan of the bus has also been carried out by the SaveLIFE Foundation under judicial supervision. The organisation is expected to submit its findings to the government.

The findings could help investigators establish the cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the deaths. Police are examining whether any safety lapses or negligence by the transport company contributed to the incident. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

What Happened to the Passengers of the Bus?

The fire broke out while the bus was travelling on the expressway, trapping passengers inside as smoke filled the vehicle. Nine people died in the incident, while 26 passengers survived.

Police subsequently began the process of identifying the deceased and completing the necessary procedures. The incident has also raised questions about safety features on sleeper buses, including emergency exits and the availability of fire-fighting equipment.

Authorities are examining whether passengers had adequate access to emergency exits and whether the available safety equipment was sufficient to help them escape after the fire broke out.

Yamuna Expressway Bus Fire Probe Continues

The investigation into the bus fire remains underway. Authorities have arrested the travel agency manager, while police continue to examine the vehicle’s safety condition, previous complaints and other circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police have also sought assistance from the transport department regarding the maintenance and safety records of the bus. A technical investigation of the vehicle has been conducted by the SaveLIFE Foundation under judicial supervision, according to reports.

The investigation is also examining whether the emergency exits of the bus were accessible during the fire. Authorities are looking into the possibility that the air-conditioning system or other electrical appliances may have malfunctioned and contributed to the fire.

The probe will determine the exact cause of the fire and whether any other factors contributed to the deaths. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

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