Bus catches fire at Swargate depot, no injuries reported

A bus called Lal Pari caught fire at the Swargate depot in Pune around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident. The fire damaged the bus door but was quickly put out by the bus staff and nearby passengers. According to an official from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the bus was for some reason left standing without passengers. The driver started the ignition, which likely caused an electrical short circuit. The driver and conductor used a fire extinguisher to control the flames. The fire caused some panic among other passengers waiting at the bus stand. MSRTC officials did not need to call for the city fire brigade, as they managed to extinguish the fire within minutes. Afterward, the damaged bus was moved to a safer area within the bus terminus. An MSRTC officer noted that it was fortunate the incident occurred in the depot. They expressed concern that if it had happened on the highway, it could have led to more serious issues for passengers.