JAGATSINGHPUR: At Least 38 passengers of a private bus had a narrow escape when the vehicle caught fire on Wednesday noon. The bus was proceeding towards Naharana under Balikuda police limits from Cuttack when a passenger and driver of the bus noticed fire on the rear side of the vehicle near Ambasala on Jagatsinghpur-Machgaon State highway.
Driver of the bus parked the vehicle on the road side and asked all passengers to alight. Soon after all the passengers got down, the bus was engulfed in fire. No one was injured. Fire fighters rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire.
Police said preliminary investigation point to short circuit near the engine resulting in the fire. Police examined fitness certificate, insurance and registration documents of the vehicle.
Assistant Fire Officer, Balikuda, Nabaghan Mallick said timely action by the driver and fire fighters prevented a major mishap.