Shockwaves rippled through Vikas Puri, Delhi, as a parked bus erupted in flames, leading to the gruesome death of helper Sunil (25). The Monday morning horror has sparked a citywide discussion on vehicle safety.
Details emerging reveal Sunil was dozing inside the private Haryana bus—freshly roadworthy after 28 days—when he lit an incense to combat mosquitoes. This innocuous act is suspected to have set off the chain reaction, with fire racing through the interior.
Thick smoke alerted passersby, who dialed emergency services. Firefighters from Delhi Fire Services rushed in, confronting a vehicle fully ablaze. Viral videos illustrate the ferocity, flames devouring the structure as bystanders watched in horror.
The rescue operation was arduous; Sunil perished before help arrived. His charred corpse was extracted post-extinguishment and rushed for post-mortem. Law enforcement is conducting a multi-pronged inquiry, ruling out electrical malfunctions or diesel leaks.
This comes amid Delhi’s fire crisis: a NDMC ground fire near Safdarjung on February 6, and the tragic Mukundpur inferno on January 7, snuffing out lives of DMRC’s Ajay Vimal (44), Neelam (43), and daughter Jahnavi (9).
The pattern is alarming—fires fueled by everyday oversights in high-risk environments. Authorities advocate for ventilated alternatives to repellents, mandatory extinguishers in all vehicles, and regular safety audits. Sunil’s story, captured in those chilling clips, must catalyze change to avert future calamities.