Seven killed as Mumbai-bound Volvo bus catches fire

Seven people died and 33 were injured when a private Volvo multi-axle bus hit a bridge and caught fire in Haveri district of Karnataka on Thursday early morning. Diesel tank of the bus got ruptured when the rear of the bus hit the bridge and later caught fire, similar to the mishap that killed 45 people on October 30 in Mehabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. The bus, operated by Bangalore-based National Travels, was on its way from Bangalore to Mumbai, police said. The accident occurred at around 3.20 a.m. near Kunimelli bridge, off Bankapura Cross in Haveri district of central Karnataka. While those with burn injuries are admitted to district hospital, Haveri, those with severe burn injuries have been shifted to KIMS, Hubli, said Bhaskar Rao, Inspector General of Police (North Range), Belgaum. Haveri Superintendent of Police N. Shashi Kumar told The Hindu that after hitting the bridge, the bus moved for about 150 mts when the driver applied the brakes and caught fire. Three died on the spot and four others died on the way to hospital due to burn injuries. Many passengers suffered fracture and related injuries too during their attempt to jump out of the bus through emergency exit windows. There was no inflammable material inside the bus however, the SP said. For details about the accident, people may contact the Haveri Town police – 08375232333 and 9480804545; Haveri Police control room – 08375237368; Haveri Superintendent of Police – 9480804501; Additional SP – 9480804502; Deputy SP, Haveri – 9480804520 and Deputy SP, Shiggaon – 9480804522. On October 30, a Volvo multi-axle bus operated by Bangalore-based Jabbar Travels which was on its way from Bangalore to Hyderabad met with a similar mishap near Palem in Mehaboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. While seven, including the driver of the bus escaped, 45 passengers were charred to death inside the bus itself. Here too, the bus brushed against the retaining wall of a bridge damaging the diesel tank resulting in fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes. The Hindu