WBTC bus catches fire near Jessore Road, none hurt

Kolkata: A West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) bus caught fire on Wednesday morning on Jessore Road near airport 2 1/2 number gate. Passengers were immediately evacuated and the fire spread all over the bus within minutes. Later, two fire tender doused the flames within half an hour. No casualty was reported.

According to the sources, around 11:25 am on Wednesday, a WBTC C-23 bus of Dankuni-Park Circus route was approaching Jessore Road from Belgharia Expressway. At the end of Belgharia Expressway Flyover, some passengers got a burning smell and noticed smoke billowing out from

the engine. On seeing smoke spreading inside the bus, the passengers got panic-stricken and started screaming. The driver immediately stopped the bus and asked the passengers to abandon it.

Just after the passengers got down, the flames spread all over the bus standing in the middle of the road.

All the airport-bound vehicles were stopped at airport gate number 3. Police rushed to the spot and arranged for a pipe.

Though Traffic Inspector (TI), Airport, Sushanta Mondal tried to douse the flames but failed as the water pressure was not enough. However, the fire did not spread more.

Meanwhile, two fire tenders reached the spot and controlled the fire within a short period

of time.

On seeing a bus on fire, traffic police personnel rushed to the spot. The fire brigade was also informed. One fire tender was pressed in to action. Traffic movement towards airport 1 number crossing was completely stopped. As a result, the congestion touched the Michel Nagar. The fire was completely doused around 12:20 pm.

The bus was then towed away to Airport police station and vehicular movement

was resumed.

It is suspected that the fire occurred due to a mechanical glitch. Sources informed that forensic experts will examine the bus to identify the reason behind the incident.