Mandya: About 18 passengers travelling in a private bus from Bengaluru to Kannur had a miraculous escape when the bus in which they were travelling caught fire on Bengaluru-Mysuru                        Highway yesterday.

The incident took place near Sanjo Hospital in Mandya, when the tyre of the bus (KA-01-L-5736), belonging to Ashok and Logistic Travels, carrying 18 passengers from Bengaluru to Kannur, burst resulting in the bus catching fire.

As soon as the bus driver noticed the fire, he brought the bus to a halt and made the passengers alight from the bus. Within seconds, flames engulfed the entire bus and Fire & Emergency Services personnel from Mandya, rushed to the spot and doused the fire. But the fire had destroyed a major portion of the bus.

Meanwhile, the travels arranged another bus to ferry the passengers to their destination. Mandya Rural Police have registered a case.