What began as a routine journey turned into a nightmare for 26 passengers and crew aboard a private luxury bus traveling on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway. In the early hours of Thursday, near Agaramcheri village, just 5 km from the Pallikonda toll gate, the vehicle suddenly erupted in flames.
At approximately 1:30 AM, the quick thinking of driver K. Sankar, 40, from Coimbatore, averted a potential disaster. As the bus made its way along the highway near Pallikonda, Sankar noticed ominous smoke billowing from the engine compartment. Without hesitation, he swiftly pulled the bus over to the furthest edge of the road, prioritizing the safety of everyone on board.
Thanks to his prompt action, all occupants, including ten women, were safely evacuated from the burning vehicle. While most were unharmed, one passenger experienced breathlessness due to smoke inhalation and received treatment at the Government Taluk Hospital in Gudiyatham. Despite the successful evacuation, the bus was completely engulfed in fire, turning into a charred wreck before firefighters from Gudiyatham could bring the blaze under control. The incident temporarily disrupted traffic for over an hour as police worked to clear the burnt-out shell from the highway.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause, with initial suspicions pointing towards an electrical short circuit as the likely culprit behind the sudden inferno.