Parliament Question: Road accidents involving passenger buses catching fire

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1387 ANSWERED ON -11/02/2026 ROAD ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PASSENGER BUSES CATCHING FIRE 1387. SHRI A. D. SINGH: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has taken note of recent incidents of passenger buses catching fire on national highways causing loss of lives; (b) the existing safety standards and inspection mechanisms prescribed for fire prevention in buses; and (c) the steps being taken by Government to ensure strict enforcement of these standards, including installation of fire detection and suppression systems in all public transport vehicles? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) & (b) Yes Sir. The Government has mandated that buses, with seating capacity exceeding 22 passengers excluding driver, manufactured by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in accordance with Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) 153, were required to comply with provisions like Fire Detection Alarm (FDAS), Fire Detection Suppression System (FDSS) etc. on and after 1st April, 2019. Further, Government has strengthened the regulatory framework to implement level playing field wherein, the Non-OEM Bus Body Builders are required to obtain Type Approval of the buses from the Testing Agencies, specified under Rule 126 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989, as applicable to OEMs with effect from 01.09.2025. (c) The Government has issued an advisory to all States/UTs for strict compliance with the relevant standards at the time of registration and during periodic fitness inspection as per Rule 62 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Periodic assessment of buses through fitness test comes under the purview of the concerned State/UT Government. *****