A major disaster was averted on the evening of Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Bhopal when a sudden fire broke out among parked buses and rapidly engulfed a large section of the terminal. Eight buses belonging to Verma Travels were severely damaged and reduced to charred frames in the blaze. According to the operator, the financial loss is estimated to be around four to five crore rupees. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident. Prior to this, a similar fierce fire had suddenly erupted in a Sugam Parivahan Sewa bus near the Ramwasa area on Indore Road in Ujjain, leaving the vehicle completely gutted and causing widespread panic.
How the Flames Spread Rapidly
The fire originated during the busy evening hours in one of the buses parked at the bustling terminal and quickly spread to adjacent vehicles. Initial details indicate that the fire first ignited in two or three buses before leaping to neighboring vehicles, ultimately bringing eight buses into its grip. These included long-distance coaches operating on routes connecting to Nagpur, Ahmedabad, and Surat. Since there were no passengers inside the buses at the time the fire started, the risk of injuries or loss of human life was successfully averted.
Firefighting Operations Bring Blaze Under Control
Fire department teams rushed to the spot immediately upon receiving information about the incident. Initial reports indicated that ten fire tenders were deployed initially, while other accounts mentioned a total of fifteen to twenty firefighting vehicles and water bowsers put into service. Firefighters battled the intense blaze for roughly an hour and a half before finally bringing it under control. The fire department confirmed that the flames have been completely extinguished. However, the frequent popping sounds from bursting vehicle parts and thick plumes of black smoke triggered widespread panic inside and around the transport terminal.
Financial Damage and Cancelled Journeys
Deepak Verma, the owner of Verma Travels, estimated the total financial loss to be between four and five crore rupees. All eight affected buses were scheduled to depart for cities in Gujarat such as Ahmedabad and Surat, and their respective travel bookings have now been cancelled. The ISBT in Bhopal is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the region, typically accommodating fifty to seventy buses at any given time and dispatching around fifty to sixty buses every hour. This incident caused considerable chaos. To prevent the fire from spreading further, authorities swiftly removed other buses parked nearby.
Investigation Into the Cause of Fire
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed. Initially, a fire officer suggested that a short circuit in one of the buses might have triggered the blaze, but officials later stated that the real cause can only be determined after a thorough investigation. Police and fire department personnel are examining CCTV footage and inspecting the scene. Deepak Verma stated that he has no personal enmity with anyone. Following this incident, authorities have initiated a review of safety arrangements across the terminal.
