Lucknow, May 15 (UNI) Five passengers were charred to death and one injured when a Delhi-bound private sleeper bus from Bihar caught fire in the Mohanlalganj area of the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, on Thursday, police sources said here.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the accident caused by fire in a bus in Lucknow district. He has expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased.

He has directed the officials to reach the spot immediately and expedite the relief work. He has also directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Nipun Agarwal said that on Thursday morning the Mohanlalganj police received information that a private sleeper bus caught fire, probably due to a short circuit. "Several passengers were rescued, but five of them died," he said.

He said that around 60 to 70 passengers were travelling in the bus at the time of the incident. "The deceased include two children," he said.

Police sources said that the incident took place in the wee hours on Kisan Path on the Lucknow-Rae Bareli road when the sleeper bus caught fire. "The police and the local residents pulled out the passengers trapped inside the bus by breaking window panes. The bus dragged for one kilometre after catching fire," they said.

Police sources said that it is being said that the bus caught fire due to a short circuit.

"The bus driver and conductor jumped out of the vehicle and escaped from the spot. The deceased include two children, two women and a man", they said.

Police sources said that the deceased include Lakkhi Devi (55), Soni (26), Devraj (3), Sakshi (2) and the fifth victim has been identified as Madhusudan, age 21.

"However, the names of the victims will be verified after medical verification. The injured have been admitted to the hospital," they said.

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