Haridwar, June 4, 2026: A major tragedy was averted in the early hours of Wednesday after a Jaipur-bound Volvo sleeper bus caught fire on the Haridwar-Roorkee highway in Uttarakhand. All 32 passengers on board, including two foreign tourists, escaped unharmed after the driver detected a technical issue and promptly evacuated the vehicle.
According to police officials, the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. near Crystal World Water Park, close to the Shantarshah police check post. The private air-conditioned sleeper coach was travelling from Dehradun to Jaipur via Rishikesh and Haridwar when flames were spotted emerging from the engine compartment.
Driver Arun Kumar, a resident of Rajasthan’s Dholpur district, reportedly noticed a technical snag moments before the fire broke out. Acting quickly, he stopped the bus and ensured that all passengers were evacuated safely before the flames engulfed the vehicle.
Fire brigade teams and local police rushed to the scene after receiving information about the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire spread rapidly and completely gutted the bus. While no injuries were reported, all luggage stored inside the vehicle was destroyed in the incident.
Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh Bhullar confirmed that all passengers were moved to a safe location and later transported to their destinations in alternative vehicles. He stated that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, although a technical fault is suspected. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident.
The incident once again highlights the importance of regular maintenance and safety inspections for long-distance passenger buses, particularly those operating overnight services. Fortunately, the driver’s alertness and swift response helped prevent what could have been a serious tragedy.