Jodhpur-Bengaluru bus catches fire on Pali Road; driver evacuates all 16 passengers
Synopsis
A driver's split-second decision to pull over and evacuate passengers saved 16 lives when a Jodhpur-to-Bengaluru private bus burst into flames on Pali Road in Jaipur late Tuesday. The Euro-6 category vehicle was largely gutted before firefighters arrived — and investigators are now probing whether similar buses on long-distance routes pose a broader fire risk.
Key Takeaways
A Jodhpur-Bengaluru MR Travels bus caught fire near the D-Mart outlet on Pali Road , Jaipur, on Tuesday night .
All 16 passengers were safely evacuated due to the driver's prompt action; no injuries were reported.
The fire was brought under control after nearly 30 minutes of firefighting by teams from Basni and Shastri Nagar fire stations.
The bus, a Euro-6 category vehicle, was largely reduced to ashes; some passenger luggage was also destroyed.
Preliminary findings point to possible engine overheating or a short circuit ; a technical investigation is underway.
Similar engine-area fire incidents involving Euro-6 buses have reportedly been recorded in other states as well.
A private bus travelling from Jodhpur, Rajasthan to Bengaluru, Karnataka caught fire near the D-Mart outlet on Pali Road in Jaipur on Tuesday night, triggering panic among passengers before the driver's swift intervention ensured all 16 passengers were evacuated safely. The vehicle, operated by MR Travels, had just crossed Jhalamand and was heading out of the city limits when flames broke out.
How the Fire Broke Out
According to police, sparks suddenly erupted from the engine section, sending smoke and flames spreading rapidly through the vehicle. Passengers noticed the fire and panic set in almost immediately. The driver, demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, pulled the bus to the roadside and evacuated all occupants through the main exit within moments.
While most passengers managed to retrieve their belongings, some luggage was completely destroyed. The blaze spread quickly through the vehicle, reducing much of the bus to ashes before firefighting teams could fully contain it.
Fire Brigade and Police Response
Chief Fire Officer Jalaj Ghasia confirmed that upon receiving the fire alert, two fire tenders from Basni Fire Station and one from Shastri Nagar Fire Station were dispatched under the supervision of Officer Prashant Singh Chauhan. After nearly half an hour of intensive firefighting, the blaze was brought under control. Traffic on Pali Road remained disrupted for approximately 30 minutes during the operation.
Vivek Vihar Police Station SHO Dilip Khadav said police teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident. The burnt bus was subsequently removed with the help of a crane and shifted to the Vivek Vihar Police Station premises for further investigation.
Probable Cause and Technical Investigation
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have originated due to overheating or a short circuit near the engine wiring, though investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause. Notably, the bus belonged to the Euro-6 category, and similar engine-area fire incidents involving such buses have reportedly surfaced in other states as well.
A detailed technical investigation by the fire brigade team is currently underway to determine the precise cause of the blaze.
What Happens Next
Authorities are expected to submit a technical report following the investigation, which could have implications for how Euro-6 category buses are inspected and operated on long-distance routes across India. The incident serves as a fresh reminder of the fire safety risks associated with overnight intercity bus travel.
Point of View
But the more uncomfortable question is why a Euro-6 bus — a category marketed on cleaner combustion and modern engineering — appears to be developing a pattern of engine-area fires across multiple states. Regulatory attention has focused on older, poorly maintained vehicles; this incident suggests the inspection regime may need to extend to newer fleets as well. Long-distance overnight buses carry hundreds of thousands of passengers nightly across India with minimal real-time safety monitoring. One alert driver averted a catastrophe here — that cannot remain the primary line of defence.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Jodhpur-Bengaluru bus on Pali Road in Jaipur?
An MR Travels bus travelling from Jodhpur to Bengaluru caught fire near the D-Mart outlet on Pali Road in Jaipur on Tuesday night. The driver evacuated all 16 passengers safely before the vehicle was largely destroyed by the blaze.
Were any passengers injured in the Jaipur bus fire?
No injuries were reported. The driver pulled the bus to the roadside and evacuated all 16 passengers through the main exit before the fire spread through the cabin. Some passengers lost luggage in the blaze.
What caused the bus to catch fire?
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have started due to engine overheating or a short circuit near the engine wiring. A detailed technical investigation by the fire brigade is currently underway to confirm the exact cause.
What is a Euro-6 bus and why is it significant here?
Euro-6 refers to a stringent European emission standard applied to vehicle engines, associated with newer, cleaner technology. Authorities noted that similar engine-area fire incidents involving Euro-6 category buses have reportedly occurred in other states, raising questions about whether this vehicle category warrants closer safety scrutiny.
What action have authorities taken after the incident?
Police removed the burnt bus using a crane and shifted it to Vivek Vihar Police Station for investigation. The fire brigade has launched a technical probe, and traffic on Pali Road, which was disrupted for about 30 minutes, has since been restored.
