Jaunpur, July 3 -- : A group of 14 passengers had a lucky escape after their Varanasi-bound tourist bus suddenly caught fire near Pratapganj market on the Jaunpur-Raebareli road. The AC bus was on its way from Delhi to Varanasi when the driver, Kamal, noticed the strange smell as the vehicle passed through Gulzarganj. Realising something was wrong, he quickly drove the bus out of the busy market area and stopped it at a safer spot.

When he opened the bonnet to check, he saw flames coming from underneath the bus. Without wasting time, he calmly asked all passengers to get off. Everyone managed to escape with their small bags, though the larger luggage left inside was destroyed in the fire.

Local shopkeeper Sanjay Kumar Agrahari said the ...