Goan holiday turns sour: Bus catches fire, 46 escape unhurt

Anand, Oct 27 (UNI) At least 46 persons who were returning to Ahmedabad after a holiday in Goa, today escaped unhurt when their luxury bus caught fire near the Anand toll point on the Vadodara-Ahmedabad highway.

The bus was however completely damaged, police said.

Most of the passengers were from Saurashtra, Ahmedabad and Mehsana. There were 22 women and ten children aboard the bus.

A passenger said he had first noticed smoke emanating from the battery case and alerted others. ''The bus was immediately stopped and we all rushed out. We have lost all our belongings, including camcorders and cameras. But we thank God that all of us are safe,'' he said.

The bus had left with the holiday-makers as part of a tour package on October 18 and was to reach Ahmedabad in an hour when the accident occured.

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