At least nine people were killed and several others injured after a sleeper passenger bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida late Wednesday night. The incident occurred near Dayanatpur village in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, turning an overnight journey into a deadly tragedy.

According to police and media reports, the bus was carrying around 35 passengers and was travelling from Delhi towards Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. The vehicle reportedly started its journey from Kashmere Gate in Delhi. The fire broke out at around 11 pm near the 33-kilometre milestone of the Yamuna Expressway, under the Jewar police station area.

Most passengers were reportedly asleep when the blaze began. As smoke spread rapidly through the sleeper bus, passengers woke up in panic and tried to find a way out. Several people reportedly escaped through windows as the flames quickly engulfed the vehicle.

The situation became particularly difficult because the passengers were travelling at night and many were asleep when the emergency began. Thick smoke reduced visibility inside the bus, making it difficult for passengers to locate exits and move towards safety.

Firefighters were immediately called after authorities received information about the incident. Reports said around 8-10 fire tenders were sent to the location. Police and fire personnel worked through the night to control the flames and rescue passengers.

Reports said 20 passengers were rescued safely, while nine people died in the incident. The injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The identities and circumstances of all victims were being established by authorities as rescue and investigation operations continued.

The cause of the fire had not been conclusively established. Police said a preliminary investigation indicated that a short circuit in the bus’s air-conditioning system could have triggered the blaze. Officials stressed that the exact cause would be determined after a detailed investigation.

The bus driver and conductor were arrested, and police registered a case under provisions relating to culpable homicide, according to reports. Investigators are expected to examine the condition of the vehicle, its electrical and air-conditioning systems, maintenance records and the sequence of events leading to the fire.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences over the deaths and directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for those injured. He also instructed officials to provide necessary assistance to the affected families.

The tragedy has brought renewed attention to passenger safety on overnight sleeper buses, particularly emergency exits, electrical systems, fire safety equipment and the preparedness of operators and crews.

As authorities continue investigating the incident, families of the victims are awaiting further information about what caused the deadly blaze and whether any safety failures contributed to the loss of life.