Hero Image

Bus catches fire, driver saves 30 passengers in Krishnagiri district

BENGALURU/KRISHNAGIRI: The timely action of a 57-year-old private bus driver saved the lives of 30 people after the vehicle caught fire near Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu early on Thursday.

Police said the incident occurred when the bus owned by Sharma Travels was heading to Tirupur from Bengaluru with 28 passengers on board.

K Chowkar from Bengaluru was at the wheel.

When the bus reached Chinnaru on the Bengaluru-Chennai national highway at 1am, other motorists noticed flames atop the bus and alerted the driver. Chowkar immediately pulled over and found the parcels kept on top of the bus had caught fire. He ensured all passengers were safely evacuated.

“Within a few minutes, the fire engulfed the entire vehicle,” he said.

Shoolagiri police and fire and rescue services personnel from Hosur reached the spot and doused the flames. The passengers boarded another bus to Tirupur. “The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. We have to check the parcels first,” a police officer said.

READ ON APP