By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A major accident was averted on the busy Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna, Bihar, when a passenger bus suddenly caught fire. Thanks to the driver’s quick thinking, all passengers were safely evacuated before the fire engulfed the vehicle.
The incident occurred when a bus travelling from Hajipur experienced a short circuit near pillar number 14 on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu bridge. As smoke began to emerge from the bus, the driver promptly stopped the vehicle and evacuated the passengers, ensuring their safety.
The police from Ganga Bridge police station were immediately informed and alerted the fire brigade. The fire brigade team arrived promptly and managed to extinguish the fire.
Traffic Disruption on Gandhi Setu
The incident caused significant disruption on the Gandhi Setu bridge, which sees heavy daily traffic with lakhs of vehicles plying the route. A long queue of cars and passenger vehicles formed as people hesitated to pass by the burning bus.
Once the fire was brought under control, the police seized the bus and moved it to the station. Sadar SDPO Omprakash stated that efforts were underway to restore normal traffic flow on the bridge.
Quick Action Prevents Tragedy
The driver’s presence of mind was instrumental in averting a potential disaster. According to Sadar SDPO Omprakash, the fire was successfully controlled, and the bus was safely removed from the bridge. The incident caused panic among commuters but ended without casualties, thanks to the swift response of the driver, police, and fire brigade.
