Hisar bus blast kills 2; lightning strike?

Hisar: A Monday-night bus explosion on the Bhiwani-Hansi road killed at least two people and injured eight others, with police investigating whether a lightning strike triggered the blast.The private vehicle erupted in flames near Milkpur village, claim witnesses. While forensic teams have collected samples to find what caused the explosion, locals reported seeing lightning strike the bus shortly before it was engulfed. "The blast shook the entire area," said Vijay, a shopkeeper stationed 150-m away. "Flames erupted from the middle of the bus, and passengers ran out screaming."Recovery teams discovered two bodies inside the wreckage once they had extinguished the fire. Police suspect the victims to be Sunil, an intelligence department employee from Hansi, and Baljeet, 45, a private sector worker from Bhiwani, but since the remains were charred beyond recognition, a DNA test will help confirm the identities.Sunil's family noted his mobile phone had gone dead minutes before the blast, while Baljeet's family reported him missing since failing to arrive for his work shift in Hisar.Tosham deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Dilip Kumar confirmed that investigators were weighing eyewitness accounts of a lightning strike against technical evidence. "A scientific examination and the subsequent forensic report will lead us to answers," he said.The eight injured passengers were moved to nearby hospitals. Police and forensic experts remain on the site, while the recovery efforts have halted traffic on the regional corridor. Pending DNA reports, the investigators focus on the vehicle's mechanical state and the weather conditions at the time of the explosion. They expect preliminary forensic findings within this week. MSID:: 130582724 413 |