NEW DELHI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people including a child were killed and 16 others suffered burn injuries after a passenger bus they were travelling in caught fire in eastern Indian state of Bihar, police said Friday.
The moving bus caught fire on Thursday evening at Harnaut in Nalanda district, about 59 km south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
"Last evening eight passengers were killed and 16 others received burn injuries when a bus caught fire in Nalanda district suddenly," a police official told Xinhua. "Those killed include seven adults and one child."
According to police officials 10 critically injured were referred to Patna, while as six others were admitted at Sadar hospital in Bihar Sharif.
The bus was on way to Sheikhpura from Patna when it caught fire at Harnaut Bazar.
Police said they have registered a case and ordered investigations into the accident.
"The cause of fire is being ascertained," the police official said.
Locals said following the incident, authorities immediately rushed fire tenders to the spot to douse flames that engulfed the bus.
"The fire was so fierce that it was difficult to evacuate all the people safely," a local resident Anand Das said.
The local Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the incident besides ordering an inquiry into it. Kumar also announced a compensation of 6193 U.S. dollars to families of deceased passengers in the accident.
Last week four people were killed and 15 others suffered burn injuries after a passenger bus caught fire in adjacent Uttar Pradesh state.
