Bus fire in Vrindavan claims life of Maha Kumbh pilgrim

Tragedy struck on Tuesday evening when an elderly passenger lost his life after a private bus carrying pilgrims from Telangana to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh caught fire.

The incident occurred at a tourist center in Vrindavan, where the bus had been parked.

The vehicle, carrying around 50 pilgrims, had arrived at the facility earlier in the evening. While some passengers ventured out to visit temples, others stayed behind to prepare food.

Witnesses reported seeing sparks coming from the bus, which quickly escalated into a devastating blaze. Emergency services were alerted, but the flames engulfed the vehicle before they could arrive.

During the chaos, a passenger raised the alarm, pointing out that an elderly man, identified as Dhrupati, was still inside the bus. Tragically, by the time the fire was extinguished, his lifeless body was recovered by emergency personnel.

A fellow passenger, who had been sitting near Dhrupati, claimed that the deceased was smoking a beedi and had opted to remain inside while others stepped out.

Senior police officials, including Additional SP City Arvind Kumar, arrived at the scene, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

The group had been on their way to Prayagraj to take a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh later that night.