Electric RTC Bus Catches Fire During Charging in Warangal

Warangal, March 29: A major fire broke out at a TGSRTC (Telangana Government State Road Transport Corporation) charging station in Warangal on Sunday early morning after an electric bus reportedly caught fire while plugged into a fast-charging point. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the vehicle was empty at the time of the incident.

The fire started at approximately 2:15 AM while the electric bus was stationed at the depot for its routine charge. According to eyewitnesses and depot staff, thick black smoke began billowing from the rear battery compartment before flames quickly engulfed the roof of the vehicle.

The alert staff immediately disconnected the power supply to the charging grid to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buses and infrastructure. Two fire tenders from the local station arrived within 15 minutes and managed to bring the blaze under control, though the bus was significantly damaged.

While an official investigation is underway, preliminary reports suggest a technical snag or short circuit within the lithium-ion battery pack as the likely cause. “We are investigating whether the fire was caused by a fluctuation in the charging voltage or a thermal runaway in the battery cells,” stated a senior TGSRTC official. “Safety remains our top priority, and we are working with the manufacturers to audit all charging points in the Warangal region.”