Nashik, Jan 18 (PTI) The passengers of a Mumbai-bound Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus had a narrow escape as they managed to step out of the vehicle in the nick of time after it caught fire in a ghat section of the Mumbai-Agra national highway in Nashik district on Wednesday, police said.
The presence of mind shown by the driver and conductor of the bus saved the lives of the passengers, they said.
The incident took place around 12 pm, the police said.
"The Shahada-Mumbai MSRTC bus was passing from Rahud ghat section when it suddenly caught fire. There were 32 passengers in the bus that was coming towards Nashik. When the driver of the bus saw it, he immediately informed the conductor and asked passengers to step out," a police official said.
Due to the presence of mind shown by the driver and the conductor, nobody received even a minor injury in the accident, he said.
"Just after the passengers got out of the bus, the blaze intensified. It was completely gutted in the incident," he added.
After being informed, the personnel of police and fire brigade departments reached the spot and the fire was doused after some time, police said.
In a separate incident, some vehicles kept in the premises of the Mumbai Naka police station in Nashik suddenly caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. Two four-wheelers were completely destroyed in the blaze, the police said, adding that the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.