Twenty-two people were charred to death and more than a dozen seriously injured when a Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus was involved in a collision with a truck in Bareilly on Sunday night.
Officials said the toll could go up. The collision occurred near Invertis University in Bithari Chainpur police station limits.
Eyewitnesses said the Delhi-Behraich bus was running on the wrong side of the road when the accident happened. Its fuel tank burst in the collision, causing fire. Many passengers were sleeping when the accident occured and they were charred to death. Some passengers however, managed to break open the windows and jump out.
Fire tenders reached the spot and controlled the fire.
Both the driver of the bus and his helper are among the injured. Driver Sundar Lal told the police that he had no idea about the fire as the helper was driving the bus after he slept near Rampur.
Inspector General of Police S.K. Bhagat told reporters that the charred bodies will have to be identified only through DNA tests.
“In total, 37 people were travelling in the bus. The injured have been admitted in the local hospital,” Senior Superintendent of the Police Jogendar Kumar told The Hindu.