A Dhaka-bound Icon Paribahan bus caught fire while it was moving. Locals immediately broke the window of the bus and brought about 30 passengers out safely. As a result, the passengers of the bus were saved from a major accident. No one was injured in the incident.

The incident took place in front of the N Alam Filling Station on the west side of Kallghar Bazar in Ramu upazila on the Cox’s Bazar-Chittagong highway around 12 am on Friday.

It was learned from eyewitnesses and passengers that a burning smell was detected inside the bus shortly after it left for Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar. Later, the passengers saw the fire. They panicked when smoke spread inside the bus within a moment. At that time, local people quickly came forward and broke the window of the bus and took the passengers out one by one.

Passengers alleged that the driver or assistant did not inform them about the fire. Rather, the driver and assistant were not seen inside the bus after the fire and smoke spread. Some passengers also alleged that they fled the scene later. However, no statement was immediately received from the bus authorities on this matter.

Sergeant Parvez of Ramu Highway Police Station said that the police reached the spot within about 10 minutes of receiving the news. With the help of locals, the passengers were safely taken out of the bus. At the same time, the belongings of the passengers inside the bus were also recovered and handed over to them.

Ramu Fire Service and Civil Defense Station Officer Md. Abdul Quader Chowdhury said that initially it is believed that the fire in the bus may have started due to a mechanical fault and overheating of the engine. Later, members of the fire service went to the spot and brought the fire under control.

A passenger said, “We had come to visit Cox’s Bazar. We were going to Dhaka. The driver or helper did not inform us about the fire in the car. First we smelled burning, then we saw fire. Locals rescued us by breaking the window of the bus.’

Another passenger said that they had come to Cox’s Bazar with seven family members. After the fire broke out inside the bus, it was difficult to breathe due to the smoke and burning smell. If the locals had not quickly broken the window and brought them out, a major accident could have occurred.

After the incident, traffic on the highway was disrupted for some time, but the situation later normalized. According to police and local sources, another bus of the same company was arranged to take the passengers to their next destination.

It is worth noting that just a few days earlier, on August 17, another Cox’s Bazar-bound sleeper bus caught fire in Elliotganj area of ​​Comilla. No lives were lost in that incident either.