A potential disaster was narrowly avoided in Jaipur when a Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) bus caught fire near the Mansarovar RICO intersection. Approximately 60 passengers on board managed to evacuate in time, escaping unharmed, although the bus was completely destroyed within half an hour. The incident took place around 2.40 p.m.
The bus, which had departed from Sindhi Camp bus stand in Jaipur en route to Kekri, was moving towards Sanganer when smoke and flames were noticed while crossing the Mansarovar RICO intersection. Panic ensued among passengers as the fire intensified. The driver acted swiftly, pulling over and guiding passengers to safety, with everyone disembarking quickly.
Eyewitnesses described how the flames rapidly consumed the bus, transforming it into a massive fireball. Firefighter Shakuntala Saini from the Mansarovar Fire Station indicated that a short circuit was suspected as the likely cause of the blaze. The fire originated in the wiring system and swiftly spread to the engine compartment, fueled by flammable materials.
Upon notification, two fire tenders from the Mansarovar Fire Station rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 30 minutes before gaining control. By the time the fire was extinguished, the bus had been reduced to a charred shell. Fortunately, no injuries or burns were reported, and traffic flow at the busy intersection was temporarily disrupted during the firefighting efforts.
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation to determine the precise cause of the fire and evaluate the extent of the damage.
