India, Sept. 24 -- Nine passengers were killed and more than 20 were rescued after a bus travelling from Delhi towards Mahoba caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.

The incident took place on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday near the 33-kilometre milestone of the expressway, under the jurisdiction of Jewar police station.

Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar said the bus, bearing registration number BR32PA8647, was travelling from Kashmere Gate in New Delhi towards Mahoba when it caught fire.

"On receiving information, police officials along with local police personnel, a rescue tender, a fire tender stationed at the Jewar toll plaza and four other fire tenders ...