7 killed, 40 hurt in Volvo bus fire

Even as Volvo Buses continues with its probe into the fire that gutted one of its buses killing 45 people near Mehaboobnagar on October 30, an eerily similar accident near Haveri killed seven persons and injured 40 early Friday morning.

In both the incidents, fuel tanks were ruptured when the buses hit the retaining walls of bridges/ culverts. Although experts say diesel is less volatile than petrol, its contact with ‘very hot’ material, like the engine in a running vehicle, could escalate into a major fire rapidly.

Both the buses were operated by private operators -- Jabbar Travels in Mehaboobnagar case and National Travels -- both based in Bangalore.

While none of the passengers were able to break open the emergency exit windows in Mehaboobnagar incident, some brave hearts kicked open the windows in the absence of hammers at Haveri, according to surviving passengers. Some of the passengers in Haveri sustained fracture in their attempt to jump out of windows since they were located at 7 ft height and through emergency exit on the roof of the bus.

Head of Marketing, Volvo Buses, Sohanjeet Randhawa told The Hindu that the in-house inquiry report into the Mehaboobnagar incident is yet to reach him. He could share it only with the regulating agencies, he said.

Nevertheless, Volvo has adopted stringent safety measures and the company is unaware of what exactly happened at Haveri, he said.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Thursday said the government would make installation of emergency exit doors mandatory for all passenger vehicles.

Speaking to The Hindu in the backdrop of the Haveri accident, Reddy said the department would issue suitable orders shortly. While the order would be made applicable with immediate effect for new vehicles, it would be extended to existing vehicles in a phased manner.

Permits cancelled

Reddy said besides making emergency doors mandatory, the department has taken a slew of measures to ensure passenger safety in buses. Since the Mehaboobnagar accident, over 4,000 tourist and private buses were subjected to thorough inspection. While 1,999 cases of different nature were registered against the operators, permits of 119 buses were cancelled, the Minister said.

He said steps are being taken to ensure private operators do not transport cargo in their buses, particularly inflammable and dangerous substances. Special squads of motor vehicle inspectors have been constituted at each of the regional transport office in the State to maintain strict vigil on tourist and private buses, Reddy said.

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