At least nine passengers were killed after a sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, late on September 23, 2026. The bus was travelling from Kashmiri Gate in Delhi towards Mahoba when the blaze broke out around 11:30 pm.Key HighlightsNine passengers, including one woman and eight men, died in the Yamuna Expressway bus fire.Around 30–35 passengers were travelling on the bus.More than 20 passengers were rescued.The driver and conductor were taken into custody and a case was registered.Police are investigating the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.How Did the Yamuna Expressway Bus Fire Happen?"The sleeper bus fire occurred near the 33-kilometre milestone of the Yamuna Expressway in the Jewar police station area. The bus was operated by Raj Kalpana Travels and carried registration number BR32PA8647."According to the preliminary police investigation, a spark or blast in the bus's air-conditioning system may have caused engine lubricating oil to catch fire. The flames then spread quickly through the vehicle.However, an FIR filed on a passenger's complaint also alleges that passengers noticed a burning smell and asked the driver and conductor to stop. These allegations are part of the investigation and have not been established by a court.How Many People Were on the Bus?Officials said the bus was carrying about 35 passengers, while the FIR mentioned around 30–35 people. More than 20 passengers were rescued after the fire broke out.Most passengers were reportedly asleep when the fire started. One survivor, Rinki Rajput, said she was awakened after someone alerted passengers. She described heavy smoke and confusion inside the bus as people tried to escape.Some passengers reportedly escaped through windows as the fire spread rapidly.Who Were the Victims and Accused?Police have said that nine passengers died, including one woman and eight men. As of September 24, authorities had not publicly released a verified complete list of the deceased with their ages. Therefore, unconfirmed names and ages are being avoided in this report.Reports identify people detained in connection with the bus fire as Pawan Kumar, Yogesh Dixit and conductor Rohit, all reported to be from Kanpur. Reports differ on whether two or three people were detained and on their specific roles, so the investigation will establish individual responsibility.What Are Police Investigating?The Yamuna Expressway accident investigation is examining how the fire started, the condition of the bus and the response after passengers reported the burning smell.Police have registered an FIR at Jewar Police Station. Investigators are also examining the bus's regulatory records. Reports say the vehicle had multiple traffic challans and certificates connected to different states.The incident has also raised fresh questions about road safety, sleeper-bus maintenance and emergency evacuation procedures.What Compensation Has Been Announced?Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ₹2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund for the family of each deceased passenger and ₹50,000 for each injured person.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced ₹2 lakh for each deceased passenger's family and ₹50,000 for injured victims. He directed officials to ensure medical treatment and assistance for the affected families.The bus fire investigation remains underway, and further details about the victims, cause of the fire and possible safety violations are expected as police continue their probe.
