Government bus catches fire near Tiruchendur

More than 40 passengers escaped unhurt after a government town bus caught fire while travelling from Tiruchendur to Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district on Tuesday evening.
The bus departed Tiruchendur at around 4.30 p.m. and was proceeding towards Srivaikuntam when the incident occurred near the Nallur railway gate on a temporary service road near Kurumbur.
While the bus was moving, thick smoke suddenly began billowing from the area near the steering wheel. Alerted by the smoke, driver Thavasimuthu immediately pulled over to the roadside and opened both automatic doors, instructing all passengers to get off the vehicle without delay.
The passengers hurried out of the bus in panic. Within seconds, the vehicle caught fire, and flames rapidly engulfed it.
On receiving information, firefighters from Tiruchendur rushed to the spot and battled the blaze for a considerable time before bringing it under control.
However, the bus was completely gutted in the fire and was reduced to a charred shell. A suspected electrical short circuit is believed to have triggered the blaze, though the exact cause has not been confirmed.