Haridwar-bound bus fire in Meerut: 26 passengers escape unhurt
Synopsis
A Rajasthan Roadways double-decker AC bus was reduced to ash on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway near Meerut — but all 26 passengers walked away unharmed. The real story is a motorcyclist's timely warning and a driver's split-second decision that turned a potential mass-casualty event into a narrow escape.
Key Takeaways
A Rajasthan Roadways double-decker AC bus caught fire near the Meerut–Muzaffarnagar border on Friday, 27 June 2025 , at around 7:10 am .
All 26 passengers , including women and elderly travellers, were evacuated safely within two to three minutes .
The fire was reportedly triggered by a short circuit in the rear-mounted AC unit's wiring.
An alert motorcyclist overtook the bus and warned driver Rajendra Kumar , enabling a swift roadside stop.
Luggage and belongings worth several lakhs of rupees were destroyed; the vehicle was completely gutted within 20–25 minutes .
Four fire tenders from Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, and Sardhana battled the blaze for nearly two hours before it was brought under control.
A Rajasthan Roadways double-decker AC bus travelling from Jaipur to Haridwar was completely gutted in a fire on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway near the Meerut–Muzaffarnagar border in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, 27 June 2025. All 26 passengers on board — including women and elderly travellers — escaped without injuries, owing to the swift response of the driver and conductor.
How the Fire Broke Out
The bus had departed Jaipur at around 10 pm on Thursday, driven by Rajendra Kumar, a resident of Surya Nagar Colony, Jaipur, accompanied by conductor Ramkumar Hooda of Sikar. At approximately 7:10 am on Friday, a short circuit reportedly occurred in the wiring of the rear-mounted air-conditioning unit as the bus neared the Meerut–Muzaffarnagar border, sending smoke billowing into the passenger cabin within moments.
An alert motorcyclist travelling behind the bus spotted flames and smoke rising from its rear, accelerated, overtook the vehicle, and flagged down driver Rajendra Kumar. Acting quickly, Kumar steered the bus to the roadside shortly after crossing the Dadri flyover.
The Evacuation
Conductor Ramkumar Hooda immediately began directing passengers off the bus while urging calm. With the main entrance becoming congested in the ensuing panic, several younger passengers opened emergency windows and jumped out to hasten the evacuation. All 26 passengers were safely off the vehicle within two to three minutes.
After confirming everyone had evacuated, the driver and conductor attempted to retrieve luggage from the main storage compartment. They managed to rescue only two or three bags before an AC gas pipe reportedly burst, causing flames to engulf the entire vehicle. Both men narrowly escaped as fire rapidly consumed the bus.
Firefighting Response
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Surendra Singh said the alert was received at around 7:30 am, following which fire tenders were dispatched from both Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts — one from Sardhana, two from Meerut, and one from Muzaffarnagar. The bus was completely gutted within 20–25 minutes, though firefighters battled smouldering wreckage for nearly one-and-a-half to two hours before fully controlling the blaze. Thick black smoke was reportedly visible from nearly two kilometres away, and the intensity of the fire brought traffic on the highway to a standstill.
Losses and Aftermath
While no lives were lost, luggage and personal belongings worth several lakhs of rupees — including bags and clothing stored in the compartment — were destroyed. Meerut Police and Uttar Pradesh Transport officials arranged refreshments for the stranded passengers and later transported them to Haridwar in a replacement bus so they could continue their journey.
Preliminary investigations point to a short circuit in the rear AC unit as the likely cause, though a formal inquiry is expected to determine the exact origin of the fire.
Point of View
Which concentrate heat and wiring stress. Until mandatory mid-route vehicle checks and functional fire-suppression systems become standard on intercity buses, such narrow escapes will remain a matter of luck rather than design.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Haridwar-bound bus to catch fire near Meerut?
A short circuit reportedly occurred in the wiring of the rear-mounted air-conditioning unit at around 7:10 am on 27 June 2025, as the bus was travelling near the Meerut–Muzaffarnagar border. The exact cause is subject to a formal investigation.
Were any passengers injured in the Meerut bus fire?
No. All 26 passengers on board, including women and elderly travellers, escaped without injuries. They were evacuated within two to three minutes after the bus was pulled over.
How were passengers evacuated from the burning bus?
Driver Rajendra Kumar steered the bus to the roadside after being warned by a motorcyclist, and conductor Ramkumar Hooda directed passengers to exit. With the main entrance congested, several passengers used emergency windows to evacuate faster.
What happened to the passengers after the bus was destroyed?
Meerut Police and Uttar Pradesh Transport officials arranged refreshments for the stranded passengers at the scene. They were subsequently transported to Haridwar in a replacement bus to complete their journey.
How many fire tenders were deployed and how long did it take to control the blaze?
Four fire tenders were deployed — one from Sardhana, two from Meerut, and one from Muzaffarnagar. Although the bus was completely gutted within 20–25 minutes, firefighters took nearly one-and-a-half to two hours to fully control the smouldering wreckage.
