Around 60 passengers, mostly government employees, women and children, escaped unhurt due to the timely action of the driver of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus that caught fire here on Tuesday.
When the town bus, proceeding to Collector’s office from Kamarajar Central bus stand, was approaching RM Colony bus stop, the driver, Muthuvel, saw thick smoke coming out of the engine. Suddenly, the engine caught fire and flames spread in all directions.
The driver immediately stopped the bus and asked the passengers to run for safety. Passengers, in a grip of fear, jumped out of the bus. Women and children fled the bus in tears.
On hearing the cry of the passengers, autorickshaw drivers and petty shop owners, along with the driver of the bus, poured water on the engine and put out the fire.
Police said an electrical leak in wires led to the fire in the engine
