Another DTC bus catches fire, depot manager suspended

NEW DELHI - Another Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) low-floor bus - the eighth since Nov 21 - caught fire in east Delhi Thursday. While no one was injured in the incident, the public transport firm has suspended one of its depot managers for negligence, an official said.

The fire was reported from the engine of the bus plying on route number 165 (Shahbad Dairy-Anand Vihar) around 3 p.m. The bus was on the Shahdara flyover when it caught fire.

The bus was running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The driver of the bus safely disembarked the passengers. Two fire tenders doused the fire in 20 minutes.

DTC’s Managing Director Naresh Kumar stated that the incident took place due to short circuit, which led to the wiring getting burnt.

Kumar also said that the bus was “faulty”.

“In this case, a faulty bus was allowed to ply. The concerned depot manager of Rohini-I has been placed under suspension for negligence in performance of his duties,” Kumar said.

The government had recently issued directions to all DTC depot managers to closely monitor the fitness of buses and ensure that only fully fit buses are allowed to ply on the city roads.

DTC has ordered a comprehensive check up of its low-floor bus fleet. The process is to be completed by the end of January 2010.