Bus with Maha Kumbh pilgrims catches fire in Vrindavan, 1 dies

Hyderabad: A private tourist bus carrying 50 pilgrims from Nirmal district caught fire in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the death of an elderly passenger on Tuesday. The group of pilgrims hailing from Bhainsa and Kubeer mandals had embarked on a pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela and various temples in Uttar Pradesh on Jan 1. After attending the Mela on Tuesday, the bus was parked at a tourist facility in Vrindavan while the passengers visited a temple. During this time, the vehicle caught fire. Among the 50 passengers, Sheelam Dharupath, a 65-year-old resident of Palsi village in Kubeer mandal of Adilabad district, who had remained on the bus, lost his life in the fire. The victim sustained burns on 90% of his body. His wife performed his cremation in Vrindavan, said Nirmal police. "We coordinated with Vrindavan police and local administration to arrange two buses and provisions for the safe return of the surviving pilgrims. The group departed at 11 am on Wednesday and is expected to reach Nirmal by Thursday afternoon," said Bhainsa rural SHO M Nylu. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The bus, operated by Narasimha Tours & Travel, was a 2011 model with its fitness certificate expired in Nov, although its vehicle permit is valid until 2029. "All the pilgrims had fortunately left the bus before the incident, except for one who stayed inside due to fever and wanted to rest. We initially saw smoke coming from the bus, and within moments, intense flames engulfed the entire vehicle, making it impossible for anyone to enter and rescue the passenger. The fire destroyed all documents, personal belongings, and some luggage that was inside the bus," S Bhagvan, owner of the travel agency, told TOI.