Jaipur: A routine journey for around 30 passengers on a JCTSL low-floor bus turned into a frightening experience Sunday after the vehicle caught fire near Ramkutia. The bus was going from Kalwar Road towards Chandpole when the engine caught fire.Panic spread among passengers as they quickly got off the bus with no injuries reported. However, what happened next raises serious questions about the safety arrangements on board. When an attempt was made to put out the fire, the fire extinguisher installed in the bus was found to be empty.With no working extinguisher available, help came from an unexpected source. A water tanker passing along the road was stopped, and its water was used to control the fire.The incident has once again brought the maintenance of JCTSL buses under scrutiny. JCTSL Employees’ Union president Babulal Nyangli said the bus is maintained by Mateshwari Company and questioned how it had continued to operate after reportedly being declared unfit earlier this year.He also raised concerns over the company being awarded a tender for 50 double-decker buses. “If the company is unable to properly maintain the buses that are already on the road, then one has to question what the condition of the new buses will be,” he said.
