Daijiworld Media Network - Perambalur

Perambalur, Jul 18: Twenty-three passengers had a narrow escape after a private sleeper bus travelling from Chennai to Madurai caught fire on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway near Perambalur in the early hours of Saturday.

The bus, which left Chennai around midnight, was heading to Madurai via Perambalur and Tiruchirappalli. It was being driven by Ibrahim (63), a resident of Melur in Madurai district.

The incident occurred at around 5.30 am near Ayan Peraiyur village close to Mangalamedu in Perambalur district, when smoke was noticed emanating from the front of the vehicle.

Driver Ibrahim immediately pulled the bus over to the roadside after spotting the smoke. Sensing the danger, he woke the sleeping passengers and asked them to evacuate the vehicle without delay.

The passengers hurried out with whatever belongings they could carry. Within minutes, flames spread rapidly from the front of the bus, engulfing the entire vehicle.

On receiving information, personnel from the Mangalamedu police station and highway patrol rushed to the spot and alerted fire and rescue services from Veppur and Perambalur.

By the time firefighters arrived, the bus had been completely engulfed in flames. Around 15 firefighters battled the blaze, preventing it from spreading further and bringing it under control by 7 am.

The bus was completely destroyed in the fire and reduced to a charred shell.

The incident also disrupted traffic on the busy national highway. Police diverted vehicles to the opposite carriageway for a short distance to ease congestion, while earthmovers were used to remove the burnt bus from the road after the fire was extinguished.

Authorities later arranged alternative transport for the stranded passengers, who resumed their journey after collecting their belongings.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Mangalamedu police have registered a case and launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.