Jaipur: A Rajasthan Roadways double-decker AC bus was completely destroyed in a devastating fire while en route to Haridwar on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday. 

Thick black smoke billowing from the blaze was visible from nearly two kilometres away. Fortunately, all 26 passengers on board escaped without injuries.

According to reports, passengers evacuated the bus through emergency doors and windows after it came to a halt. However, amid the panic, luggage and personal belongings worth several lakhs of rupees—including bags and clothing stored in the luggage compartment—were completely destroyed in the fire.

According to preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts, the bus, driven by Rajendra Kumar, a resident of Surya Nagar Colony in Jaipur, departed from Jaipur for Haridwar at around 10 p.m. on Thursday. He was accompanied by conductor Ramkumar Hooda, a resident of Sikar.

At approximately 7:10 a.m. on Friday, as the bus was travelling near the Meerut–Muzaffarnagar border, a short circuit reportedly occurred in the wiring of the rear-mounted air-conditioning unit. Within moments, smoke began filling the passenger cabin.

An alert motorcyclist travelling behind the bus noticed flames and smoke emerging from its rear. He immediately accelerated, overtook the bus, and warned driver Rajendra Kumar about the fire. Acting swiftly, Rajendra Kumar steered the bus to the extreme side of the highway shortly after descending the Dadri flyover.

He instructed conductor Ramkumar Hooda to evacuate all passengers immediately while urging them to remain calm. As passengers realised the bus was on fire, panic spread through the cabin. With the main entrance becoming congested, several younger passengers opened the emergency windows and jumped out to speed up the evacuation.

Within just two to three minutes, all 26 passengers—including women and elderly travellers—were safely evacuated. After ensuring everyone was safely off the bus, the driver and conductor attempted to rescue passengers' luggage by opening the main storage compartment.

They managed to retrieve only two or three bags before an AC gas pipe reportedly burst, causing flames to engulf the entire vehicle. Forced to retreat for their own safety, the two narrowly escaped as the fire rapidly consumed the bus, destroying the remaining luggage and the vehicle. The intensity of the fire brought traffic on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway to a standstill.

Local residents and police immediately alerted the fire department.

Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Surendra Singh said the alert was received at around 7:30 a.m, following which fire tenders from both Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts were dispatched. One fire tender from Sardhana, two from Meerut, and one from Muzaffarnagar were deployed to the scene. Although the bus was completely gutted within 20–25 minutes, firefighters battled the smouldering wreckage for nearly one-and-a-half to two hours before bringing the blaze fully under control.

Following the incident, Meerut Police and Uttar Pradesh Transport officials arranged refreshments for the stranded passengers. They were later transported safely to Haridwar in another bus, ensuring they could continue their journey.