<p>As many as 30 passengers, two drivers and a cleaner were safely evacuated after an un-air-conditioned sleeper bus operated by SRS Travels caught fire on National Highway-48 near Kyatasandra during wee hours of Saturday.</p>.<p>The incident occurred around 5.30 am when the bus was heading to Bengaluru. Sparks in the engine triggered the fire, said the police.</p>.<p>The bus plies between Kembhavi in Surpur district and Bengaluru. A few passengers spotted sparks and raised an alarm. The driver immediately halted the bus. The passengers quickly deboarded the bus, added the police.</p>.<p>As it was dawn, most passengers were awake and hence managed to get down, said<br />the police.</p>.<p>On being alerted, fire tenders reached the spot within no time as the fire force office was closely by. </p>.<p>“I was sleeping on an upper seat. As soon as I spotted the fire, I raised an alarm and quickly jumped out. As I fell down, there was fracture on my hand. I am being treated at a hospital in Bengaluru,” Sanganagouda Patil, a policeman from Talahalli in Surpur taluk told <span class="italic">DH</span>. Losses due to fire mishap is estimated to be around Rs 25 lakh.</p>
<p>As many as 30 passengers, two drivers and a cleaner were safely evacuated after an un-air-conditioned sleeper bus operated by SRS Travels caught fire on National Highway-48 near Kyatasandra during wee hours of Saturday.</p>.<p>The incident occurred around 5.30 am when the bus was heading to Bengaluru. Sparks in the engine triggered the fire, said the police.</p>.<p>The bus plies between Kembhavi in Surpur district and Bengaluru. A few passengers spotted sparks and raised an alarm. The driver immediately halted the bus. The passengers quickly deboarded the bus, added the police.</p>.<p>As it was dawn, most passengers were awake and hence managed to get down, said<br />the police.</p>.<p>On being alerted, fire tenders reached the spot within no time as the fire force office was closely by. </p>.<p>“I was sleeping on an upper seat. As soon as I spotted the fire, I raised an alarm and quickly jumped out. As I fell down, there was fracture on my hand. I am being treated at a hospital in Bengaluru,” Sanganagouda Patil, a policeman from Talahalli in Surpur taluk told <span class="italic">DH</span>. Losses due to fire mishap is estimated to be around Rs 25 lakh.</p>