Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Dec 8: A new tourist bus that was parked at Ujjodi caught fire on Tuesday December 8 evening. 

The bus belonging to Jain Travels was parked at the ground near the petrol bunk at Ujjodi, while the driver of the bus was attending a court case.

At around 4 pm, a prospective customer came to view the bus. The cleaner of the bus who was there, took the customer inside the bus and showed him the seats and the facilities. The customer went away after viewing the bus.

Sources said that the cleaner who had turned on various switches in the bus forgot to put them off. After a few minutes, the bus could be seen in flames.

The fire brigade from Pandeshwar which reached the spot managed to extinguish fire. But the damage was done by then. The cleaner, who had panicked because of the sudden fire, is said to be absconding.

Short circuit has been cited as the cause for the fire.