Patna: Panic broke out at a bus stand near the block headquarters in Supaul district on Wednesday evening after a parked bus caught fire, allegedly due to a short circuit. Angry locals later vandalised a police vehicle and damaged property at the Chhatapur police station, accusing the fire brigade of responding late.According to bus staffer Manoj Bhagat, the bus was parked at the stand and was scheduled to depart for Patna around 8pm when the fire erupted. “A short circuit appears to have triggered the blaze. The fire spread rapidly and the entire bus was gutted,” he said, adding that no passengers or staff were inside the vehicle at the time, averting a major tragedy.Police personnel initially struggled to control the agitated crowd. Supaul DM Sawan Kumar and SP later reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The DM said preliminary findings point to a short circuit, but all aspects are being examined. He added that those involved in vandalism would be identified and action would be taken against them. Police said the bus conductor, Lalan Singh, is being questioned.
