VIJAYAWADA/KAKINADA: Forty commuters had a narrow escape when an APSRTC bus caught fire while on its way to Vijayawada from Gudivada, at a spot near Pulavarti Gudem in Pedaparupudi mandal on Friday.
Most of the passengers were students or employees heading for work. They hurried out of the bus, not waiting to pick their bags inside. The bags were burnt to ashes.
Fire fighters swung into action and doused the flames. The police reached the spot and started an investigation.
According to the RTC, the fire started in the engine. The driver noticed smoke and immediately stopped the vehicle to the side of the road. Timely action of the driver saved lives.
Meanwhile, in another mishap, five students of a private school bus were injured as the bus on its way to the school hit a tractor at Dindi village in Malikipuram mandal. Some 30 students were in the bus. The front portion of the bus was damaged and the tractor overturned. The students were admitted to a hospital. Malkipuram police registered a case.
In another incident, the wheels of an RTC bus got separated from the bus on Friday at Malikipuram village in Konaseema district. The bus was going to Antarvedi from Razole. The three passengers in the bus escaped unhurt.
