30 passengers survive bus fire in Rangpur

Staff Correspondent, Rangpur: At least 30 passengers of a bus escaped death when it caught fire in Rangpur city on Thursday night.

The CNG-run BRTC bus caught fire at the midst of central bus terminal and truck terminal in the city on midnight.

However, 20 people were sustained injuries while they were hurriedly getting down from the bus after engulfing the fire.

Witness Rashedul Islam said, the BRTC bus (Dhaka Metro-BA-11-4671) was heading to Syedpur of Nilphamari from Baipail of Dhaka's Ashulia . The bus caught fire suddenly from its engine when it arrived in Rangpur. 20 passengers were injured as they were moving out from the bus breaking glasses in fear of blasting the gas cylinder.

Another passenger Mostakin Rahman said the bus with 52 holidaymakers, most of them were garment workers, started the journey from Baipail. Some people got down on the way. There were around 30 passengers inside the bus when it caught fire.   Many of them could not bring out their belongings which were gutted in the fire.

Getting the news, the state minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mashiur Rahman Ranga visited the spot.

ABM Jahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, confirmed the news.

He said, being informed, three units of Rangpur Fire Service rushed the spot immediately and doused the blaze with their frantic efforts.

risingbd/Rangpur/September 1, 2017/Nazrul Mridha/A K Azad