HRTC bus destroyed in fire near Palampur; all passengers escape unharmed

A Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was completely destroyed after catching fire on the Palampur–Chowki Khalet route in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district on Friday. The incident occurred near Kaluna village while the bus was carrying passengers towards Palampur.

Thanks to the driver's quick response, all passengers, along with the conductor, were safely evacuated before the flames spread through the vehicle. No injuries or casualties were reported.

According to officials, smoke was first noticed coming from the bus, prompting the driver to stop the vehicle immediately and ask everyone to get off. Within minutes, the fire engulfed the bus, reducing it to a charred shell. Firefighters later reached the spot and brought the blaze under control. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, though preliminary reports suggest it may have been triggered by a short circuit.

The incident has renewed concerns over the operation of ageing buses in the HRTC fleet. Local residents and commuters have urged the transport corporation to replace older vehicles and strengthen maintenance and safety inspections to prevent similar incidents in the future.