Bus Fires in India and California Leave Five Dead

Two major bus fires occurred in separate locations: one in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and another near Lucknow, India. In California, a bus carrying over 30 children and adults caught fire on Highway 17, but all passengers were safely evacuated without injuries due to the quick actions of the driver and chaperones. In Lucknow, a sleeper bus traveling from Bihar to Delhi caught fire early Thursday, resulting in five deaths, including two children and a mother-daughter duo, after the driver and conductor reportedly fled the scene. Most survivors in the Lucknow incident escaped by breaking windows, as the emergency exit failed and another exit was obstructed. Officials in India suspect an electrical short-circuit as the cause and revealed that the bus lacked valid permits and fitness certification. Investigations are ongoing in both incidents to determine the exact causes.