Patna: Panic broke out at Bairiya bus stand in Muzaffarpur district on Sunday after a passenger bus caught fire and was completely gutted. The fire spread rapidly, sending thick black smoke into the sky and causing chaos at the bus stand. However, no one was injured in the incident, police said.Drivers and staff of other buses parked nearby quickly moved their vehicles away from the spot, preventing the flames from spreading to other buses and averting a bigger incident.Police and fire officials were informed, and fire tenders reached the spot and brought the blaze under control. Witnesses said passengers and bus staff rushed to safety after seeing the flames.Shopkeeper Dilip Thakur said people initially tried to douse the fire by throwing soil on the bus with the help of an earthmover engaged in construction work at the bus stand. They also used water in an attempt to control the flames.“The fire spread very fast. People tried to put it out, but by the time the fire brigade arrived, the bus had been reduced to ashes,” Thakur said.Town SDPO-II Vinita Sinha said the fire was contained and there were no reports of casualties or injuries.“Preliminary information suggests the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause,” she said.Bairiya bus stand is a major transport hub in North Bihar, with buses operating to several parts of Bihar and other states. Bus services and traffic were affected for some time following the incident.
