IMPHAL, March 27: Two handymen of a passenger bus were charred to death after the bus they were sleeping in caught fire during the middle of the night at Keisampat Leimajam Leikai under Imphal police station Tuesday.
The two deceased have been identified as Ningthoujam Naoba, 18, son of N Shanti of Wangoi Laiphrakpam in Thoubal district and Abung alias Boy, 19, from Singhat in Churachandpur district.
Both Naoba and Abung were working as handymen of the bus with regd no MN 01-1174, and which used to ply along the Imphal-Churachandpur route.
The bus belonged to one Adhikarimayum Dhanbir of Keisampat Leimajam Leikai.
Naoba had joined his work just last week, according to his family members.
The two were sleeping inside the cabin of the bus which was parked near the residence of the owner at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai in Imphal west when some locals found the bus on fire just after midnight on Tuesday.
The locals rescued the two and rushed them to RIMS, however they succumbed at the hospital today. Naoba’s had suffered around 60 per cent burn injuries while Abung received around 80 per cent.
The rear seats of the bus were totally charred during the fire, however the cabin where they were sleeping was found unharmed.
The source of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the body of Naoba has been handed over to his family after post mortem examination at RIMS.
However, the body of the other victim, Abung was reportedly lying at the hospital till the filing of this report as his family is yet to recieve the body.
The police have also started an investigation into the incident.
It may be mentioned that passenger bus service on the Imphal-Churachandpur road has been stopped a few days ago following a disagreement over certain matters between the All Manipur Bus Owners Federation and All Lamka Taxi Owners’ Society.