66 NRI's escape burning bus; become victims of racist jibe

H S Rao

London, Aug 44 (PTI) A group of 66 Sikh women and
children on an outing to the seaside miraculously escaped from
a burning double-decker bus in southern England but became
victims of racist jibes from passing motorists.

The passengers, worshippers at a gurdwara in Luton,
travelling back after an outing in Weymouth, Hampshire on
Friday were quickly evacuated after an alert off-duty police
officer asked them to vacate the vehicle, The Dorset Echo
reported.

Minutes after they were evacuated, the double-decker
coach exploded in a fireball, melting the tarmac.

A woman in the coach, Inderjeet Kaur told BBC TV that the
evacuees were subjected to racist abuse by passing motorists
as they stood on the highway, wrapped in foil blankets,
waiting for a replacement coach.

"They were pointing at us saying 'go back to the burning
bus', and sticking their fingers out," she said.

Another passenger, Inderjeet Buar said, "We organised a
day out to Weymouth and over 200 people came, travelling on
three coaches."

After a smell of burning rubber was brought to driver's
attention they decided to drive to the next motorway services
for a replacement but Buar said, as the coach progressed
passing cars flashed their lights, hinting something amiss.

"We pulled over and a driver who had also stopped, who I
believe as an off-duty policeman, ran on to the coach and got
everyone off very quickly, she added. PTI HSR
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