‘I don’t care if you die’: Driver’s chilling response before Noida bus went up in flames

According to the FIR, passengers had objected to the driver and conductor smoking inside the bus, but their pleas allegedly went unheeded.

The driver and conductor reportedly said they often encountered such smells before the front portion of the bus erupted in flames.

When passengers began screaming and asking the driver to stop the bus, he allegedly told them, as quoted by NDTV, "I don't care if you die, I won't stop the bus."

At least nine people, including a woman, were burnt to death and several others were injured after a sleeper tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, late Wednesday night.

The bus, carrying 35 passengers, was travelling from Noida to Mahoba when the fire broke out. 

Passengers tried to escape through windows

Most of the passengers were asleep when the bus caught fire. Some reportedly tried to escape by jumping out through the windows.

A fire brigade team and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.

AC blast suspected to have triggered fire

Police said the initial probe indicated that the fire may have originated from an air conditioner blast, which allegedly caused the ignition of the engine's lubricating oil.

Preliminary reports also suggested that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze. However, the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.