Ujjain bus fire: Tyre burst ignites Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan bus, all passengers safe
Synopsis
A bus bearing the 'Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva' branding was completely gutted near Ujjain on Tuesday after a rear tyre burst triggered a rapid blaze — the second safety incident linked to Madhya Pradesh's newly launched bus scheme within days of its launch, raising questions about vehicle fitness standards.
Key Takeaways
A Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva bus caught fire near Ramvas , 15 km from Ujjain , on 6 October 2026 .
A rear tyre burst reportedly caused the driver to lose control; the bus was completely destroyed, leaving only its chassis.
Nearly a dozen passengers escaped without injury after being evacuated before the fire spread.
Four fire tenders took 45 minutes to arrive and nearly one-and-a-half hours to extinguish the blaze.
The Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva was launched just 11 days earlier on 25 September by CM Mohan Yadav and Nitin Gadkari , with 351 buses flagged off.
The RTO is verifying the vehicle's records; this is the second safety incident linked to the scheme within days of launch.
A bus operating under the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva scheme caught fire near Ramvas, approximately 15 km from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, after a rear tyre reportedly burst while the vehicle was en route from Ujjain to Indore. Nearly a dozen passengers aboard were forced to evacuate as thick smoke engulfed the bus, though no injuries were reported.
How the Fire Broke Out
According to police, the burst rear tyre caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which subsequently caught fire. The blaze spread rapidly, consuming the entire bus within minutes. Police station in-charge Narendra Yadav confirmed the sequence of events, stating: 'As soon as the rear tyre burst, the bus caught fire. All passengers were evacuated safely, and no one was injured.'
Four fire tenders arrived at the scene approximately 45 minutes after the incident was first reported. Firefighting operations lasted nearly one-and-a-half hours before the blaze was brought under control. By the time the fire was extinguished, the bus had been entirely destroyed, leaving only its chassis intact.
The Vehicle and Its Scheme Link
The bus, bearing registration number MP-13 B 2922, was an older diesel-powered vehicle. It carried saffron-coloured reflective markings and displayed the words 'Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva' on its windows, with video footage from the scene also showing 'Mukhyamantri Sugam Bus Seva Parivahan' written on its front. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) is now verifying the vehicle's records and its formal association with the state transport scheme.
Context: A Recently Launched Government Scheme
The incident comes just days after the launch of the Madhya Pradesh government's Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva, aimed at expanding inter-city and intra-city bus connectivity across the state. The service was inaugurated on 25 September at the BHEL Dussehra Ground in Bhopal by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, with 351 buses flagged off for seven major cities. Ujjain specifically received 10 buses for religious tourism, flagged off by Chief Minister Yadav from Mahakal Lok on 27 September under the PM-eBus Sewa and Ujjain Darshan Sewa initiatives.
Notably, this fire follows an earlier incident in which an e-bus linked to the same newly launched scheme was involved in an accident in Indore's Rajwada area, leaving one person dead and two others injured. The two incidents together are drawing scrutiny to the operational readiness and vehicle-fitness standards of the scheme.
Investigation Underway
Police and officials from the relevant departments have begun investigating the circumstances that led to the fire. The RTO is examining the vehicle's records to determine its exact status under the transport scheme. Questions about the fitness of older diesel-powered vehicles operating under a government service brand are likely to feature in the probe. The findings are expected to have implications for how the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva vets and deploys vehicles going forward.
Point of View
Effectively co-opting a government scheme's credibility for vehicles that may not meet its standards. The RTO probe will be the test of accountability here, but state governments have historically been slow to act when the fleet implicated is tied to a politically visible launch. Ujjain's religious tourism significance adds another layer — the city's 10 dedicated scheme buses were flagged off by the Chief Minister himself barely 10 days before this fire.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Ujjain bus fire on 6 October 2026?
A rear tyre burst on the bus reportedly caused the driver to lose control, after which the vehicle caught fire near Ramvas, around 15 km from Ujjain. The blaze spread rapidly and completely gutted the bus within minutes.
Were any passengers injured in the Ujjain bus fire?
No injuries were reported. Nearly a dozen passengers were on board and all were evacuated safely before the fire fully engulfed the vehicle, according to police station in-charge Narendra Yadav.
Is the burnt bus connected to the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva?
The bus displayed 'Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva' markings on its windows and front, but the Regional Transport Office is still verifying its formal registration under the scheme. It was an older diesel-powered vehicle bearing the registration number MP-13 B 2922.
What is the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva?
It is a Madhya Pradesh government initiative to expand inter-city and intra-city bus connectivity, launched on 25 September by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, with 351 buses deployed across seven major cities.
Has there been any other accident involving this scheme?
Yes. Days before the Ujjain fire, an e-bus linked to the Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva was involved in an accident in Indore's Rajwada area, leaving one person dead and two others injured. Authorities are investigating both incidents.
