Commuters jump off metro bus as smoke triggers panic

Two passengers sustain injuries during desperate evacuation bids

RAWALPINDI:

Two passengers, including a woman, sustained injuries as they desperately tried to evacuate a moving metro bus which was suddenly engulfed in plumes of smoke as it approached the Rahmanabad Metro Bus Station on Saturday.

According to sources, passengers shattered the windows of the bus in desperate bids to get out due to which two people, including a woman, suffered significant injuries. They said prompt first aid was administered by rescue personnel at the track while the bus service was resumed after a brief halt.

Eyewitnesses reported that the metro bus filled with smoke as it approached the Rahmanabad Metro Station from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.

Passengers, gripped by the fear that the bus might catch fire, panicked and resorted to breaking the windows of the moving bus in an attempt to exit. However, in the midst of this frenzied evacuation, a woman broke her leg. The cause of the smoke, which had made breathing extremely difficult for passengers, could not be immediately ascertained.

A spokesperson for the Rescue 1122 said emergency response teams arrived swiftly upon receiving the distress call. “They found the bus with two broken windows and two injured passengers, including a woman,” the spokesperson said.

“The injured individuals received immediate medical attention from the rescue workers. They had no burn injuries and were transported to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) for further treatment,” he added.

Although no signs of a fire were detected, it was initially suspected that an engine malfunction had caused smoke to enter the bus. The bus officials attributed the incident to a technical problem that led to the smoke accumulating inside the bus, “inconveniencing passengers and causing damage to the vehicle”.

Probe panel formed

To ascertain the exact cause of the incident, a committee has been formed to conduct an investigation.

The probe panel will gather information from the Rahmanabad Metro Station, including statements from the bus crew.

Meanwhile, the severely damaged bus was transported back to the Metro Bus Depot in the federal capital for repairs. The incident resulted in an hour-long shutdown of the metro track.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2023.