Greater Noida. In the early hours of the morning, a sleeper bus traveling the Yamuna Expressway caught fire near Jewar Airport, resulting in nine fatalities and several severe injuries. The inferno prompted an immediate rescue operation by police, fire‑services and local administrators.

What led to the disaster?

According to initial reports, the vehicle had set out from Delhi’s Kashmiri Gate bound for Rath in Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh, carrying roughly 30‑35 passengers. Around 11:30 p.m., the bus reached kilometre 33 of the expressway on its Noida‑to‑Agra route when a foul odor was detected inside the cabin.

“We smelled something burning and alerted the driver and conductor, but the bus kept moving,” said passenger Sunil Kumar of Rath in a formal complaint.

Minutes later, flames erupted near the driver’s seat and quickly engulfed the entire coach, giving occupants scant time to escape. While a few managed to flee, many were trapped, leading to the tragic death toll.

Casualties and immediate response

The blaze claimed nine lives and left several others with burn injuries. Panic spread among motorists travelling the expressway, and video footage of the burning bus quickly circulated on social media.

Jewar police arrived on the scene shortly after the alarm, launching rescue and relief efforts. The deceased were taken into police custody for further investigation, while the cause of the fire remains under inquiry.

Official reactions

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

CM Yogi Adityanath expressed his deep sorrow to the victims’ families, ordered prompt medical care for the injured and directed authorities to extend all possible assistance to those affected.

President Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu posted on X, describing the incident as “deeply distressing” and offering heartfelt condolences to the bereaved, while wishing a swift recovery to the wounded.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also conveyed his grief, labeling the loss as “tragic” and extending sympathies to the families of the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex‑gratia assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund: ₹2 lakh for each family of the deceased and ₹50,000 for every injured passenger.

Investigation underway

Authorities have launched a probe to determine the exact cause of the fire, examining vehicle maintenance records, driver actions and possible technical failures.