Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): On Monday midnight, two stationary buses caught fire, resulting in the death of a 25-year-old bus cleaner. According to police reports, one bus caught fire first, and the flames quickly spread to the adjacent vehicle. The incident took place in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district.
Witnesses recalled that on the previous evening, the bus staff had shared dinner and drinks together. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination as the inquiry continues.
According to information, the victim has been identified as Harish Panika, a 25-year-old bus cleaner. At the time of the incident, a driver, a conductor, and the cleaner were resting inside the bus. While the driver and conductor managed to escape, Harish Panika was trapped in the central section of the vehicle. Kotwali police station in-charge Nipendra Singh confirmed that despite desperate attempts, Panika could not escape the rapidly spreading fire. Fire tenders and police arrived promptly and managed to douse the blaze, but the damage was already done.
Police investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. Investigation Officer Nripendra Singh suggested that a mosquito repellent coil might have triggered the incident. However, no evidence of foul play has been found so far. Traffic police station in-charge Deependra Kushwaha noted that it is common for private bus staff to sleep in their vehicles, especially when early morning departures are scheduled.
