Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Jan: Chaos broke out near Lal-Tappar in Doiwala today, when a moving UTC bus suddenly caught fire. Within moments, the blaze intensified, engulfing the entire vehicle and triggering panic among the passengers. Screams filled the air as the flames spread rapidly, but fortunately all passengers managed to exit safely before the fire consumed the bus, averting a major tragedy.
On receiving information, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after strenuous efforts.
The incident occurred near Lal-Tappar while the bus was travelling from Lohaghat to Dehradun with 15 passengers, including the driver, on board. The local residents promptly alerted the fire department about the emergency. Although firefighters arrived quickly and battled the flames, the bus was reduced to ashes before the fire could be fully extinguished. The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. this morning. The sudden outbreak of fire created a frantic situation, but the passengers managed to disembark in time. Despite the fire brigade’s timely arrival and active efforts to douse the flames, the vehicle was completely gutted.
This incident comes close on the heels of a similar scare in the capital city. In December 2025, a private bus caught fire at St Jude’s Chowk within the Patel Nagar Kotwali area of Dehradun. In that case, the bus was carrying nearly 40 students from Tamil Nadu who were on an All-India tour. As the bus approached St Jude’s Chowk, smoke began billowing from the engine. The driver immediately pulled over to the roadside, and all students were safely evacuated through the doors and windows.
