13 die as arsonist torches bus
A passenger killed himself and at least 12 others when he set a bus on fire in southern India today.
Eight of the victims, including the arsonist, died at the scene, near Kodandapuram, 110 miles south of Hyderabad, capital of southern Andhra Pradesh state.
Another 17 people, who suffered severe burn injuries, were being treated in hospital . Doctors said some of the victims had burns over more than 80% of their bodies.
The motive behind the crime was not yet known, but police ruled out any possibility of the incident being tied to the storming of a Hindu temple by gunmen in the western city of Gandhinagar, in which 32 people were killed.
“This area doesn’t have any record of Hindu-Muslim violence. Moreover, the bus had passengers from all religions,” said a senior police officer .
The bus driver said a passenger spilled either petrol or paraffin on the floor of the bus. As the woman sitting next to him tried to stop him, calling out for help, he struck a match.
“She screamed to stop the bus and I immediately put on the brakes. But, the bus was already engulfed in the flames,” said the driver, Ali, who goes by one name.
