Nagpur: A catastrophic tragedy was narrowly avoided on the Umred-Nagpur route on Sunday afternoon after a private travel bus suddenly caught fire mid-journey, reducing the vehicle to ashes within minutes. Thanks to the presence of mind and swift action of the driver, all 45 passengers escaped unharmed, authorities confirmed.
The incident, which triggered panic and brought traffic to a standstill, occurred around 2 pm in the Chakri Ghat area near Umred. The bus, operated by Gopal Travels and owned by Rajshree Girish Pandey of Umred, was travelling from Paoni to Nagpur when the emergency unfolded.
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14 Oct 2025
According to police, the vehicle (MH-40/Y-6904) had left Paoni on Sunday afternoon. After crossing Umred, several passengers noticed smoke seeping into the cabin and raised an alarm. Sensing imminent danger, driver Lankesh Nandlal Padole (32), a resident of Wahi in Paoni, immediately halted the bus and ordered an evacuation.
Within seconds of the last passenger disembarking, flames erupted violently and engulfed the entire bus.
Umred Police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the scene after receiving distress calls. Firefighters managed to douse the blaze, but the bus was completely gutted. Traffic on the busy Umred–Nagpur corridor remained blocked for nearly two hours as emergency teams worked to control the situation.
Preliminary inquiries suggest an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire. Umred Police have initiated a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause.
Passengers and locals hailed the driver’s timely intervention, crediting him for preventing what could have been a mass casualty incident.
