Jaipur, March 13 (NationPress) A catastrophic blaze engulfed a private bus on the Rajasthan-Gujarat border on Friday, resulting in one passenger suffering serious injuries and igniting significant concerns regarding passenger safety. Thankfully, swift evacuation efforts ensured that other passengers escaped unharmed, preventing a potential disaster.

Reports indicate that a newly inaugurated private bus service aimed at connecting Nachna with Ahmedabad was involved in the incident early in the morning.

On just its third day of operations, the bus experienced a short circuit in its AC unit near Nenava, in the vicinity of Dhanera.

Witnesses reported that toxic smoke rapidly filled the bus's interior, followed by flames that erupted almost instantaneously, causing panic to ensue among passengers. Thanks to the quick response from the driver and conductor, all passengers were promptly evacuated from the vehicle. Unfortunately, during the chaos, one individual sustained severe burn injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Dhanera. The intensity of the fire resulted in extensive damage to the bus in mere minutes.

Local authorities and police quickly arrived at the scene to evaluate the situation. The injured passenger was subsequently transferred to Palanpur after receiving initial medical assistance in Dhanera.

Medical professionals have stated that the passenger is in critical condition. Several others sustained minor injuries and were provided with preliminary care.

Nirmal Rayani, the operator of Swagat Travels, noted that the bus service between Nachna and Ahmedabad had been launched only recently. He expressed concern that the fire spread so swiftly that passengers’ belongings, including vital documents and mobile devices, were completely destroyed, complicating their ability to reach out to family members.

Rayani remarked, “Upon learning about the incident, we immediately sent our team to the location. Our primary focus is to reconnect with the passengers and notify their families.”

This incident underscores the dangers posed by buses equipped with air conditioning systems that have been installed through makeshift methods, commonly known as ‘jugaad’. Transportation experts emphasize that non-standard wiring used during the manufacturing of bus bodies and AC units, coupled with the lack of functional emergency exits, can convert such vehicles into near “moving coffins”.

The fact that the Nachna-Ahmedabad bus was involved in an accident just three days after its launch raises serious questions regarding the operational standards of the district's transport authorities.