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Jaipur, November 23 (IANS) A sleeper bus carrying a marriage procession caught fire after coming in contact with a high tension power line in Rajkheda police station area of Dholpur district in Rajasthan on Saturday evening.
In the incident, a female shepherd passing by got seriously burnt. Police station in-charge Gambhir Singh said the accident took place at Samona village around 5.15 pm when the bus collided with a low-hanging high-tension wire, causing electric current in the vehicle and a massive fire.
The injured woman, identified as Bhagwan Devi, wife of Than Singh, resident of Samona, suffered severe burn injuries while grazing cattle. After first aid, he was referred to Agra for special care. Five-six goats also died due to electrocution.
At around 5.45 pm, the fire brigade team from Rajkheda reached the spot and brought the fire under control within 30 minutes.
The incident happened about 150 meters before the Government Higher Secondary School, Samona. The bus was going to the village to pick up a wedding party before going to Sikandarpur. According to the police, the driver was not aware of the height of the dilapidated power line, due to which the bus got electrocuted.
As the vehicle burst into flames, panic spread among the villagers, who rushed to remove children and cattle from the area fearing a possible explosion caused by the diesel tank. The driver and conductor fled from the spot immediately after the incident. Police have started efforts to trace them. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board at that time.
Saturday’s fire incident comes weeks after a similar incident in Rajasthan, when a private bus caught fire after hitting an overhead line. That case had prompted local authorities to review the condition of power lines in rural areas, especially those running close to narrow rural roads.
Local residents in Samona have also demanded immediate inspection of low-hanging high-tension lines in the area to prevent further accidents.
–IANS
Arch/PGH