Puri, March 23: A private bus was completely destroyed in a fire that broke out late Sunday night at the main bus stand in Puri. The blaze reportedly started suddenly and spread quickly, engulfing the vehicle within minutes. Eyewitnesses described flames shooting high into the air as the bus was reduced to a charred wreck.

Fire service personnel arrived at the scene promptly after receiving the alarm and launched an immediate operation to control the fire. Their swift actions prevented the flames from spreading to other nearby buses parked in close proximity.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. Authorities noted that the bus stand, typically crowded, had relatively fewer people at the time, which helped avert injuries or fatalities.

The fire did not spread to adjacent vehicles, averting what could have been a major incident involving multiple buses. While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, preliminary investigations suggest arson could be a possible cause, though no confirmation has been made yet.

An investigation is underway, and further updates are expected.