KUALA LIPIS: Quick action by a 50-year-old double decker express bus driver saved the lives of 39 passengers and his co-driver after the vehicle caught fire at Km 32, Jalan Lipis-Merapoh near Felda Telang here yesterday.
The driver who spotted flames and smoke emitting from the engine at 1.45pm stopped the bus and instructed all the passengers to get off the vehicle.
District police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Hassan said no injuries were reported as the driver, his co-driver and passengers
managed to get off the bus before it was engulfed in flames.
He said investigations revealed that the bus, which was en route from Puchong Prima, Selangor to Kota Baru, Kelantan experienced engine failure.
“The fire spread fast and bags belonging to seven passengers in the luggage compartment were destroyed in the incident.
“Kuala Lipis Fire and Rescue Department personnel took 30 minutes to douse the flames before the passengers continued their journey in another bus,” he said, adding the driver lodged a police report about 4pm.