Hyderabad, Sept. 24 -- A private travel bus carrying 38 pilgrims from Hyderabad to Srisailam caught fire near Manda Mallamma X Road in the early hours of Thursday, September 24, within the limits of Meerpet police station. All passengers escaped unhurt.

The bus, operated by Sri Lakshmi Narayana Tours & Travels, was part of a three-bus convoy carrying around 150 devotees to Srisailam. Two of the buses had stopped to refuel at a petrol bunk nearby around 2 am when flames suddenly erupted from the right side of the engine of the third bus, which was parked on the main road.

Fire safety officials said they received a call around 2:15 am and rushed personnel to the spot to douse the blaze. The driver reportedly noticed the flames first and a...