Fire Wounding Several People: Bus Without Emergency Exits

12 years ago - 15 November 2012, The Défi Media Group
Fire Wounding Several People: Bus Without Emergency Exits
The 29 passengers of a bus company United Bus Service (UBS) serving the route 30 - route that connects Dubreuil and Curepipe - have lived a nightmare Wednesday morning. A fire broke out on the bus, registered 846 FB 06. Several injuries are deplorable and the vehicle had no emergency exit ...

It was around 9:00 when the bus with 35 seats initiates the roundabout Wooton. He sailed to Curepipe from Dubreuil. On board, 29 passengers, mostly students. This is the exit from the roundabout things get tough. A thick black smoke engulfed the vehicle. A first observation of the engine 35-seater is on fire. The driver stopped his bus.

Faced with this unexpected and given the magnitude of the flames, passengers only think one thing: to save their skin. They rush to the back of the bus with the hope to escape from the exit. Emergency Exit but no, there is none ...

This is the big panic as flames obstruct the only way the door. It's a race against death while the fire wins the driver's cab.

One passenger reflex break a glass panel to allow the evacuation of his fellow prisoners. In their flight, ten of them are injured.

After more than twenty minutes, firefighters arrived Curepipe, but the fire had already destroyed the bus. Meanwhile, elements of the Emergency Response Service and those of the police Eau Coulee led the injured to hospital Candos and Rose-Belle. They are outraged. " Nu ti kapav mor brile dan sa bis-la. Pas ti ena la porte sekur. Finn bizin sott par lafnett. Public nepli en sekirite pou voyaz dan biss, "says Veda capita Curepipe.

Serious breach

Several passengers have recorded their statements to the police station Water Coulee. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. For investigators, the absence of an emergency exit is a serious breach of the Road Safety Act, especially for transportation. There is the safety of passengers.

UBS at the company, the Traffic Controller Bundhoo Ali said he was "sad about what happened." He explains that it is for good drivers "check that their vehicles are in good condition before leaving the garage. There are two fire extinguishers in the new bus to meet any eventuality. " He told the driver to wait for the explanation and the recipient of the bus to find out why the fire extinguishers were not used when the fire broke out.

Regarding the exit, the Traffic Controller confirms that there is none in this bus. He said, UBS has three vehicles and the company believes so soon to remove them from circulation. The investigation continues.