For eighteen passengers headed to Bengaluru, Saturday evening could have ended in tragedy. Instead, it became a story of quick thinking behind the wheel. An electric bus operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) caught fire near Bilikere, about 20 km from Mysuru, and while the bus was destroyed in the blaze, every person on board made it out safely.

Key facts

  • 18 passengers were evacuated safely after the bus caught fire.
  • The incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. on Saturday near Bilikere, roughly 20 km from Mysuru.
  • The driver noticed flames coming from one of the tyres after the brakes jammed.
  • The bus was travelling to Bengaluru from Virajpet and belonged to the KSRTC Central Division (BCD-4) in Bengaluru.
  • Stranded passengers were shifted to another bus to continue their journey.

A jammed brake, then flames

The bus was on its way to Bengaluru from Virajpet when trouble struck around 5:40 p.m. KSRTC Divisional Controller (Mysuru Rural Division) Veeresh H.T. said the driver noticed flames coming from one of the tyres after the brakes jammed. He reacted immediately, stopping the bus on the roadside and getting everyone out before the fire could take hold. In moments like these, seconds matter — and the driver's response meant eighteen people walked away from a burning vehicle.

Extinguishers weren't enough

The bus crew reportedly tried to douse the fire using fire extinguishers, but the flames soon spread beyond what they could handle. Fire and emergency personnel were summoned to the spot and brought the blaze under control after a while. By then, the damage was done — the electric bus was destroyed in the fire.

The journey continued

Once the immediate danger had passed, the stranded passengers were provided alternative transport in another bus, allowing them to resume their trip to Bengaluru. The bus involved in the incident belonged to the KSRTC Central Division (BCD-4) in Bengaluru.