October 26, 2025

Ranchi witnessed a heart-stopping moment on Saturday evening when a bus carrying 45 passengers suddenly caught fire while traveling from Ranchi to Chatra. The fiery drama unfolded near Mandar Bazar on the busy Ranchi-Lohardaga highway. "There were nearly 45 passengers on the bus, which suddenly caught fire near Mandar Bazar," said Manoj Karmali, officer in charge of Mandar police station. Luckily, the driver stopped the bus quickly, and all passengers rushed out to safety without a single injury. Local shopkeepers turned into heroes, using water and other means to douse the flames before the fire tender arrived. "None of the passengers suffered any injury, nor any major damage was caused to goods," Karmali added. Investigations suggest the fire started due to a short circuit around the bus's battery box. The flames spread rapidly, fed by chemical solutions stored on board. "The bus has been kept in the police station compound, while an alternative arrangement was made to take the passengers to their destination," the officer explained. Authorities have called the bus owner for questioning over missing safety features like fire extinguishers—vital tools that could save lives in such emergencies. This incident reminds us of a tragic accident just a day before, when 20 people died in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district after a private bus caught fire following a crash. This close escape in Ranchi shows how fast thinking and community help can stop disaster. The police continue to dig into why safety measures were lacking, hoping to prevent such scares in the future.

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Tags: Bus fire, Ranchi, Passenger safety, Mandar bazar, Short circuit, Bus accident,