Three dead, 23 injured as bus catches catches fire in Rampura

Sukhmeet Bhasin and Gagandeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 13

Three people died and 23 suffered burns in a fire that broke out in a luxury bus late on Saturday evening at Rampura in the district, a policeman said.

 Rayia Transport Company’s (RTC) bus was on its way to Ludhiana when it caught fire on the Bathinda-Barnala Road.  Ten passengers of the 23 are in serious condition, SSP Bathinda Naveen Singla said. 

Rampura sub-divisional magistrate Narinder Singh Dhaliwal said investigations suggested that the fire originated in the engine. Flames spread to the rest of the bus when it kept moving for more than 300 metres before it stopped.

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Seventeen passengers have been admitted to Rampura Civil Hospital, four people who have suffered grave burns have been sent to a hospital in Ludhiana and two to Bathinda Civil Hospital. 

The driver is believed to have fled the scene.

Two fire tenders were called for controlling the fire and after an hour fire was controlled.