Bengaluru to Nagercoil bus catches fire near Madurai; driver sustains minor injuries

Madurai: A private omni bus from Bengaluru to Nagercoil caught fire near Nallama Nayakkan Patti Bypass in Thirumangalam municipality of Madurai district on Monday morning. The driver sustained minor injuries, while the passengers got down to safety. Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by a front tyre burst, which made the vehicle unstable. In the process, the fuel tank sustained damage, leading to a gradual fire outbreak around 8.30am. Reacting swiftly, the driver, M Nagarajan, 38, managed to steer the vehicle to the roadside, allowing passengers and crew to evacuate safely. They also managed to retrieve most of the luggage before the flames spread. According to police around 25 passengers were travelling in the bus. A fire tender from Thirumangalam fire station reached the spot and doused the fire completely. However, the driver's cabin was entirely gutted in the blaze.Traffic on the bypass was briefly disrupted as authorities worked to clear the charred remains of the vehicle. Further investigations are underway to determine if any additional factors contributed to the incident, said police.