Koppal: At least eight passengers in a private bus had a miraculous escape after the vehicle caught fire near Halageri in Koppal taluk on Monday.

The bus belonging to Greenline Transports was bound for Mundaragi from Bengaluru and had a total 22 passengers some of whom got down at Hosapete and Koppal.

Motorcyclists, who noticed fire on the outside of the bus, followed it and managed to alert the driver. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle and all the passengers alighted. Soon the bus was engulfed in flames.

Fire and Emergency Services personnel who rushed to the spot, doused the fire. An electrical short-circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire. Koppal Rural police have registered a case.