Double-decker bus catches fire in Cox’s Bazar, passengers smash windows to escape
Locals said passengers became trapped inside the bus after the fire broke out. They subsequently broke the bus windows and helped the passengers escape.
A double-decker bus caught fire in Ramu, Cox's Bazar, late yesteray (21 August) night after its engine reportedly developed a mechanical fault, forcing passengers to smash windows to escape; no casualties were reported.
The incident occurred around 11:45pm in front of N Alam Filling Station in Kolghar Bazar on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway, said Sukanta Chakraborty, inspector of Ramu Highway Crossing Police Station.
According to locals and passengers, an Iconic Paribahan double-decker AC bus left Cox's Bazar town for Dhaka at night. When it reached Kolghar Bazar, its engine suddenly caught fire.
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With help from locals, the bus assistant used a fire extinguisher and water from the nearby filling station to partially bring the fire under control. The driver and assistant later left the bus and fled the scene.
Locals said passengers became trapped inside after the fire broke out. They broke the bus windows and helped passengers escape.
Fire Service personnel were on their way after receiving the report, but locals had extinguished the fire before they arrived.
Inspector Sukanta said initial information suggested that a mechanical fault caused the engine to catch fire. Police are investigating the incident, he added.
The damaged bus was recovered and handed over to Ramu police, he said.
