'They Laughed When We Complained': 2 Drivers, Conductor Arrested Over Bus Fire That Killed 9 In Greater Noida - VIDEO

Greater Noida police have arrested two bus drivers and a conductor following a deadly bus fire that killed nine passengers on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar on September 23. All three are expected to be produced in court soon. The Delhi-bound sleeper bus, carrying 35 people, caught fire within the Jewar police station area, filling the interior with toxic smoke. Nine individuals, eight men and a woman, perished in the inferno while over 20 others managed to escape or were rescued by emergency services.

Initial investigations revealed that survivors had complained about a strong burning odor emanating from the driver's cabin. They had reportedly objected to smoking inside the bus but were allegedly laughed at and threatened by the drivers to stay quiet. Police recorded statements from the survivors as part of their preliminary inquiry.

The fire seems to have been triggered by an electrical spark or blast in the bus's air-conditioning unit, possibly igniting engine lubricants. The sealed, sleeper configuration of the vehicle and thick smoke hampered the passengers' ability to escape. Authorities are currently investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire and the extent of the arrested individuals' involvement.