Why bus accidents trigger massive fires: Former Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao explains

Former Police and Traffic Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has explained why bus accidents often lead to major fire disasters and suggested key structural changes to prevent such tragedies, in the wake of the Hiriyur–Chitradurga bus incident.

Recent bus accidents in Karnataka, including the Hiriyur-Chitradurga incident, have once again raised serious questions about passenger safety, especially the frequent occurrence of massive fire outbreaks after collisions. Former Police Commissioner, former Traffic Commissioner, and ex-KSRTC and BMTC Managing Director Bhaskar Rao has offered a detailed explanation for this alarming pattern.

According to Bhaskar Rao, the primary reason buses catch fire so easily during accidents is the design and placement of the diesel tank. In most buses, the diesel tank is fixed on the right side and positioned very low. This makes it an easy target when a bus collides with an oncoming vehicle.

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He explained that during a frontal or side collision, the diesel tank is often the first point of impact. Diesel tanks have high fire capacity, and once damaged, fuel leaks spread rapidly, leading to intense fires within seconds. Rao pointed out that many of the bus accidents he has investigated showed a common pattern, the diesel tank bursting and causing a fire explosion.

Bhaskar Rao suggested that shifting diesel or petrol tanks to the left side of buses could significantly reduce the risk. He said changing the tank’s position and avoiding low-level installation would help prevent the tank from being directly hit during collisions.

Another major concern highlighted was the safety of sleeper buses. Rao stated that sleeper buses are particularly dangerous during accidents due to the extensive use of flammable materials. He noted that cotton padding and plastic components are used in large quantities inside sleeper buses, which allow fire to spread faster once ignition occurs.

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Additionally, sleeper buses are fitted with charging points at almost every berth. Mobile phone and laptop chargers increase electrical wiring inside the vehicle, raising the chances of short circuits during crashes. Rao also pointed out that luggage storage is excessive in sleeper buses, with baggage kept both below the bus and on the roof, adding to fire load and structural instability.

Rao emphasised that unless immediate safety corrections are made in bus design, similar fire tragedies will continue to occur. He stressed that lessons must be learned from past accidents rather than reacting only after disasters.

The expert remarks come in the context of the recent Hiriyur-Chitradurga bus accident, which once again exposed gaps in vehicle safety standards and emergency preparedness.