Another ‘Ama Bus’ catches fire due to 'short circuit' in Bhubaneswar

An ‘Ama Bus’ caught fire at Kalinga Studio Square in Bhubaneswar on Saturday morning, triggering panic in the area. Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire broke out due to a short circuit in the main battery cable.

Fortunately, no passengers were injured in the incident. The information was confirmed by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which manages the operation of ‘Ama Bus’ services.

According to officials, the incident occurred at around 6:26 am today when the bus was standing at the Studio Square stoppage. The bus was carrying 26 passengers at the time. On noticing smoke and flames, the passengers immediately got down, averting any casualties.

Following the incident, CRUT has reportedly issued a show-cause notice to the bus operator. It has also directed that the fitness of 30 other old buses be ensured immediately.

Also Read: Ama Bus catches fire in Bhubaneswar; narrow escape for passengers

CRUT has sought a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire and requested expert opinions from a Motor Vehicle Inspector and specialists from the Bhubaneswar Regional Transport Office (RTO).

"A diesel-run vehicle caught fire at Kalinga Studio Square in Bhubaneswar today due to a spark in the battery. Acting with presence of mind, our staff swiftly rescued all 26 passengers and safely shifted them to another bus. They also made immediate efforts to control the fire using a fire extinguisher; however, the flames spread rapidly. Subsequently, fire service personnel arrived at the spot and brought the fire under control," said CRUT MD Sanjay Kumar Biswal.