A bus of Himachal Path Parivahan Nigam’s (HRTC)’s Rampur depot suddenly caught fire on Wednesday morning. This incident happened near Shingla’s Housing Board at around 11:30 am. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the accident, but the bus was completely burnt to ashes.
According to the bus driver, Madan, he had stopped the bus and was seating the passengers when suddenly he saw smoke coming out of the bus. The driver immediately showed alertness and asked all the passengers to get out of the bus. In a short time, the fire engulfed the entire bus. As soon as the information was received, the fire department team reached the spot and controlled the fire, but by then the bus was completely burned.
After this incident, the local people raised questions on the functioning of the Himachal Path Parivahan Nigam. People allege that old and dilapidated buses are often run on this route, which breaks down every day and passengers have to face trouble.
It is being told that about 15 buses of the Rampur depot have completed their prescribed age, yet they are being run on rural routes. Local residents have demanded that the transport department replace these old buses as soon as possible so that such incidents can be avoided in the future.
