What Happened When a Sleeper Bus Struck a High-Tension Line in Rajasthan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- High-voltage power lines pose significant risks in rural areas.
- The incident resulted in severe injuries to a local shepherdess.
- Residents demand immediate safety inspections.
- Emergency response teams acted promptly to control the fire.
- Previous similar incidents have led to increased scrutiny of electrical infrastructure.
Jaipur, Nov 23 (NationPress) A sleeping bus en route to collect a wedding party was engulfed in flames on Saturday evening after it came into contact with a high-voltage power line in the Rajakheda police jurisdiction of Dholpur district, Rajasthan.
A woman shepherd, Bhagwan Devi, who was passing by, endured significant burn injuries due to the incident. According to Police station in-charge Gambhir Singh, the accident transpired around 5:15 p.m. in Samona village when the bus grazed a low-hanging high-voltage wire, resulting in an electrical surge that ignited a large fire.
The injured individual, Bhagwan Devi, the spouse of Than Singh and a resident of Samona, was herding livestock when she suffered severe burns. After receiving initial medical care, she was transferred to Agra for specialized treatment. Tragically, five to six goats also perished due to the electric shock.
A fire brigade team from Rajakheda arrived at the scene around 5:45 p.m. and managed to control the fire within 30 minutes.
This incident occurred approximately 150 meters away from the Government Higher Secondary School in Samona. The bus was traveling to the village to pick up a wedding procession before continuing to Sikandarpur. Authorities indicated that the driver miscalculated the height of the sagging power line, which led to the electrification of the bus.
As flames consumed the vehicle, panic ensued among local villagers who rushed to evacuate children and livestock from the vicinity, fearing a possible explosion from the diesel tank. Both the driver and conductor fled the scene shortly after the event, and police are actively working to locate them. Fortunately, there were no passengers onboard at the time.
This fire incident follows a similar occurrence in Rajasthan just weeks prior, when a private bus caught fire after colliding with an overhead line. That event prompted local officials to reassess the condition of power lines in rural areas, particularly those situated near narrow village roads.
Residents of Samona have also called for an immediate evaluation of the low-hanging high-voltage lines in their vicinity to avert future accidents.