Madhya Pradesh: Bus Cleaner Loses Life in Fire Incident
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Synopsis
A tragic incident occurred in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, where a bus cleaner named Harish Panika was killed in a fire that engulfed two buses at the local bus stand. Despite the efforts of his colleagues to escape, he was unable to flee in time.
Key Takeaways
- Fire Incident: A bus cleaner was killed in a fire.
- Location: Singrauli bus stand in Madhya Pradesh.
- Investigation: Ongoing investigation into the fire's cause.
- Trapped Victim: Harish Panika was unable to escape.
- Emergency Response: Firefighters responded swiftly to the incident.
Bhopal, March 25 (NationPress) A bus cleaner was tragically killed in a fire at the Singrauli bus stand in Madhya Pradesh.
The incident occurred late on Monday night as flames consumed two buses, resulting in the death of Harish Panika (24).
Harish had been resting in one of the buses after spending an evening of socializing and drinking with his coworkers.
Traffic police station in-charge Deependra Kushwaha stated, "It's common for private bus operators' staff to sleep inside their vehicles when they have early morning departures."
Three staff members - driver Zahid Khan, conductor Kashi Patel, and cleaner Harish Panika - were inside a private bus.
Kashi, who was sleeping in the front seat, woke up around midnight to the terrifying sight of flames consuming the bus. In a panic, he alerted the others and escaped through the front door. Zahid managed to escape through the back door.
However, Harish, who was trapped in the middle seat, couldn’t get out in time, according to the officer. The fire spread rapidly, leaving him with no chance of escape.
He lost his life in the flames, unable to flee from the deadly inferno, the officer explained.
The flames raged, reducing both buses to ashes before firefighters could put it out. Kushwaha confirmed that although the fire was eventually brought under control, its cause remains unknown.
"A comprehensive investigation is underway," he stated, emphasizing that the fire brigade responded swiftly to the emergency call.
Investigation Officer Nripendra Singh mentioned that a mosquito repellent coil could be the cause, but he also stressed that no evidence of foul play had been discovered.
The two private buses were parked next to each other when the blaze ignited, rapidly spreading to the adjacent vehicle.
Witnesses and Zahid recalled that on Monday evening, the three colleagues had consumed alcohol following Harish's completion of washing the bus.
The group shared dinner at 11 p.m. before going to sleep. By 8:30 p.m., the bus had arrived from Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, and was preparing for its next journey.
"We have sent the victim's body for post-mortem, and further investigations are ongoing," the investigation officer added.
