A North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) bus was completely destroyed in a fire on the national highway near Bidar on Wednesday afternoon (March 19). Thankfully, all 25+ passengers onboard escaped unharmed.

The incident unfolded when smoke was noticed coming from the engine compartment of the Aurad unit bus (KA-38 1033), which was en route from Bidar to Aurad. Acting without hesitation, driver Rajkumar and conductor Balaji promptly stopped the vehicle and evacuated all passengers to safety before the flames spread.

Despite their efforts, the fire quickly engulfed the bus, leaving it gutted. Firefighters reached the spot swiftly and managed to douse the blaze. Bus unit manager Rajendra and Santpur PSI conducted an inspection at the scene to assess the damage and circumstances.

The timely response by the crew averted a major tragedy, drawing appreciation from local authorities and passengers alike.