Greater Noida Bus Fire Kills 9: Smoking, Safety Lapses And ₹60K+ Pending Challans

A horrific bus fire in Greater Noida claimed nine lives late Wednesday night after an AC bus travelling towards Mahoba caught fire. According to the FIR, passengers reportedly noticed a burning smell and asked the driver and conductor to stop, but the bus continued moving. The FIR also alleges that the driver and conductor were smoking beedis inside the running bus. The administration said a short circuit may have caused the fire. Police arrested drivers Pawan and Vinod and conductor Yogesh after they allegedly fled the scene. India Today also found that the bus had pending challans exceeding ₹60,000, raising questions over enforcement and safety compliance.