36 passengers escape unhurt after omni bus catches fire near Sholavaram

The driver promptly evacuated all the passengers from the bus after the blaze spread inside the vehicle.

| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Panic gripped the passengers of an Omni bus heading from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh to Puducherry after the vehicle caught fire near Sholavaram early on Friday. All 36 passengers escaped unhurt. The private luxury bus was approaching Sholavaram around 6 a.m. when driver Sundar noticed sparks emerging from the vehicle. He immediately attempted to extinguish the fire, but it spread rapidly. The driver then promptly evacuated all the passengers from the bus.The Sholavaram police alerted the Fire and Rescue Services. Firefighters from the Red Hills and Ambattur fire stations rushed to the scene and battled the blaze, eventually bringing it under control.Officials said the driver’s swift action in evacuating the passengers prevented a major tragedy. The bus operator in Andhra Pradesh was contacted, and a bus was arranged to transport all the passengers to Puducherry. However, all their belongings were destroyed in the fire. The Red Hills Traffic Investigation Wing has launched a probe into the cause of the fire. Published - June 27, 2026 12:25 am IST