Massive fire breaks out at Ama Bus depot in Bhubaneswar, EV gutted

A fire broke out at the ‘Ama Bus’ depot in the Patia area of Bhubaneswar on Sunday, causing brief panic among locals after flames were seen emanating from an electric vehicle (EV) bus parked inside the depot. The incident occurred during charging hours, raising concerns over safety protocols related to EV infrastructure.

Upon receiving information about the blaze, two fire-fighting teams were immediately rushed to the spot. Fire personnel acted swiftly and managed to bring the situation under control after sustained efforts, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to other buses stationed inside the depot. Their timely intervention helped avert a potentially major mishap, as several vehicles were parked in close proximity.

Although no casualties were reported in the incident, thick smoke and flames created a tense situation in the surrounding area. Preliminary information suggests that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit during charging, as stated by the driver of the affected bus. However, officials have confirmed that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially ascertained, and a detailed investigation is currently underway.

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

Notably, this incident comes close on the heels of another fire mishap involving an Ama Bus near Kalinga Studio Square in Bhubaneswar just a day earlier. In that case too, no passengers were injured. The back-to-back incidents have once again raised questions about fire safety measures and maintenance standards for electric buses operating in the city.

“We got a call from the control room around 3.15 pm that an Ama Bus has caught fire near Patia. We reached the spot immediately. From preliminary investigation we are suspecting that the bus might have caught fire due to short circuit. The vehicle caught fire due to overheating while on charge.  Now the fire has been completely extinguished. There has been no report of injury and death. Things are in control now,” said Fire Officer Biplab Kumar Jena.