Heroic Bus Driver Saves 39 Lives as Delhi–Gonda Sleeper Bus Bursts into Flames

In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking, bus driver Jagat Singh and his aides, Shyam Sundar and Manish, saved the lives of 39 passengers after their Delhi–Gonda sleeper bus caught fire on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway early Sunday morning.

Recalling the terrifying incident, Jagat told The Times of India that the bus’s rear tyre burst around 4:30 am, followed by thick smoke and flames. “I immediately stopped the bus and tried to extinguish the fire using two cylinders, but it kept spreading. I knew we had only seconds, so I started waking everyone up and shouting for them to get out,” he said.

As most passengers were asleep, Jagat and his assistants rushed from berth to berth, helping everyone evacuate safely. Within moments, all 39 passengers stood by the roadside, unhurt. “Not a single life was lost — that’s all that matters,” Jagat said with relief.

Realizing the bus was near the Revri toll plaza, Jagat attempted to drive the burning vehicle closer, hoping to find firefighting support. Unfortunately, there was no fire safety system or emergency contact available. Calls to helpline numbers 101 and 100 failed, and the fire brigade arrived nearly 90 minutes later, by which time the bus was completely destroyed.

Despite the massive loss, passengers hailed the trio as heroes. “If the driver hadn’t acted fast, we wouldn’t be alive,” said one survivor.

Jagat, who has been driving buses for six years, credited divine intervention for the miraculous escape. “It was terrifying, but God gave me the courage to act. Saving those lives is the biggest reward,” he said.