Bus carrying 44 gutted in fire; all passengers safe

KATHMANDU: A bus heading to Surkhet from Kathmandu caught fire early Thursday morning on the Bhairahawa-Taulihawa road.

According to the District Police Office, Kapilvastu, the incident occurred at around 4 am at Titihiriya in Ward-6 of Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality.

Police say the fire suddenly broke out in the left wheel of the moving bus, following which the driver parked the bus on the roadside. Locals, police personnel, and a fire engine from Kapilvastu Municipality tried to extinguish the flames. However, the bus was completely destroyed within half an hour.

There were no human casualties in the incident. All 44 passengers on board were safely evacuated and have already been sent to their respective destinations, people say.

Police are investigating the incident.