Damaged bus from Dahod accident gutted after welding sparks fire

Vadodara: A bus that met with an accident after its tyre burst near Dahod early on Wednesday caught fire on Thursday afternoon and was completely gutted after sparks from a welding torch reportedly triggered a blaze.The bus had fallen off the highway after a tyre burst in the early hours of Wednesday, injuring 29 passengers. It was travelling from Morbi to Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh when the accident occurred on the Ahmedabad–Indore national highway.The highway passes through a hilly stretch at the accident site. After the tyre burst, the bus swerved off the road and rolled down the slope.Sources said the bus was badly damaged and some parts had to be cut or loosened using a welding torch during recovery work. A spark from the welding rod is believed to have ignited the fire.The blaze spread quickly due to strong winds and the inflammable materials used in the bus interiors. Fire tenders from Dahod rushed to the spot, but the vehicle was completely gutted before the flames could be brought under control.