India, Sept. 27 -- RTI data records 7,625 accidents and 1,320 deaths on the expressway between 2012 and 2023.

The death of nine passengers after an air-conditioned sleeper bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway near Jewar has once again brought the safety record of the high-speed corridor under scrutiny. The latest tragedy has raised questions not only about the cause of the fire, but also about driver response, vehicle fitness, emergency exits and enforcement on the 165-km expressway.

The bus, travelling from Delhi's Kashmere Gate to Mahoba, caught fire near the 33-km point at around 11.30 pm on September 23. Police said 35 passengers were on board. Twenty-six managed to escape, while nine died after being trapped inside the burning ...