Sun Dec 01 07:04:05 UTC 2024: ## Volvo Bus Catches Fire on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway; All Passengers Safe
**TIRUPATTUR, Tamil Nadu:** A luxury Volvo tourist bus traveling from Chennai to Bengaluru caught fire on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 44) near Natrampalli on Sunday, December 1, 2024. All 36 occupants, including the driver and 35 passengers, escaped unharmed.
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Velakalnatham village. Driver A. Ansar Basha noticed smoke emanating from the rear of the bus and immediately pulled over, allowing all passengers to safely exit before the fire engulfed the vehicle.
Natrampalli police and firefighters arrived at the scene, but the bus was completely destroyed before the fire could be extinguished. Preliminary investigations suggest that a broken aluminum wheel axle, possibly due to high speed, caused sparks that ignited the tires. The driver was unaware of the mechanical fault.
Affected passengers were provided with alternative transportation to Bengaluru. Natrampalli police have registered a case and are investigating the cause of the fire. The incident caused temporary traffic disruption, but police quickly regulated the flow of vehicles.
First Piper 