VIJAYAWADA: A tragic accident claimed the lives of at least 20 people early Friday when a private Kaveri Travels bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle near Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district. The bus, carrying over 40 passengers from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, was engulfed in flames within moments of the impact.
According to Dr. Siri, authorities have so far traced 21 people. Of the remaining 20 victims, 11 bodies have been identified, while nine are yet to be named. She noted that the bus door jammed during the blaze, preventing passengers from escaping.
DIG Koya Praveen stated that the collision with the bike triggered the fire, which was intensified by combustible materials inside the vehicle. Although the fuel tank remained intact, he pointed out that the bus lacked adequate safety features to prevent or reduce fire damage.
The inferno spread rapidly, trapping many passengers inside. Twelve people managed to escape through windows, some with severe burn injuries, while others were charred beyond recognition. Rescue and firefighting operations continued into the morning, with officials saying the final death toll would be confirmed after cooling operations concluded.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offered his condolences to the victims’ families and instructed officials to ensure immediate medical aid and relief for the injured.
The Kurnool tragedy follows a similar incident in Rajasthan just days earlier, where 22 people, including three children, were killed when a Jaisalmer–Jodhpur bus caught fire near Thaiyat village on October 14. Investigations in that case revealed that a short circuit in the air-conditioning system caused the blaze, a finding later confirmed by forensic and transport authorities, including the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).
