A tragic accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district claimed 20 lives early Friday after a private bus caught fire near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal.
The bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru when it rammed into a motorcycle on National Highway 44 around 3:30 a.m.
Incident Details
According to officials, the motorcycle became trapped under the bus, rupturing the fuel tank and triggering a massive explosion. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the vehicle within minutes. Many passengers, who were asleep at the time, were trapped inside.
However, 21 passengers managed to escape through windows after breaking them open. Local residents rushed to help before fire tenders arrived.
Kurnool District Collector Dr. A Siri confirmed that out of the 41 passengers, 21 were rescued safely while 20 lost their lives. The bodies of 11 victims have been identified so far.
Rescue Operations
Four fire engines were deployed to control the blaze. Despite their efforts, the bus was completely gutted. The injured were taken to Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary reports suggest that most of the passengers were residents of Hyderabad.
Among the survivors are Naveen Kumar, Akhil, Jasmitha, Akira, Ramesh, Jayasurya, Harika, Subrahmanyam, Ramireddy, Venugopal Reddy, Satyanarayana, and Srilakshmi.
Reactions from Leaders
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow, stating, “The loss of lives in the Kurnool bus fire is deeply unfortunate. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, currently on an official tour in Dubai, expressed profound grief over the tragedy. He directed senior officials to oversee rescue and relief operations, provide the best medical care to the injured, and ensure full assistance to the victims’ families.
State Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy visited the site, reviewed the situation with district officials, and assured that all necessary support and medical aid would be provided.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also conveyed condolences, urging the government to extend substantial financial assistance and ensure quality healthcare for the injured.
Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary findings suggest possible negligent driving and fuel leakage. Forensic teams have been deployed to identify the deceased, and DNA testing will be conducted where needed.
The tragedy has cast a shadow of grief over Kurnool and Hyderabad, as families wait anxiously for confirmation about their loved ones.
