Noida:

At least nine people were killed and several others injured after a sleeper tourist bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida early Thursday morning.

According to reports, the bus was travelling from Delhi to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh when the fire broke out. Most of the passengers were reportedly asleep at the time.

The blaze quickly engulfed the bus, triggering panic among the passengers. Several people managed to escape by jumping through the windows. Emergency services rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took stock of the situation and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. He also directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured.