The Kurnool bus fire tragedy has shocked the nation, claiming at least 20 lives on Friday morning as the bus travelled from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.
Investigations now reveal that the vehicle was carrying nearly 400 mobile phones, whose batteries caught fire and intensified the blaze. The tragedy was immense as the bus was consumed by flames and turned to ashes in just 10-15 minutes. The incident reportedly happened after the bus hit and dragged a motorcycle for some distance, causing the tyres to catch fire due to a petrol leak.
Officials say initial reports indicate that the blaze was triggered by the explosion of a bike’s fuel tank, while a consignment of around 400 mobile phones with lithium-ion batteries may have worsened the fire, reported The Times of India. The Kaveri Travels bus fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route exposed serious safety lapses in private long-distance bus operations.
Experts Highlight Safety Lapses in Buses Made for Luxury Look
Automobile experts note that such incidents are not isolated. They are often linked to non-functional emergency exits and unauthorised electrical modifications made to buses to add comfort or luxury features. These changes frequently overload the original electrical system.
Telangana fire officials emphasised the need for regular servicing of air-conditioning systems, which operate under high pressure and can exacerbate overheating if poorly maintained.
As the investigation into the Kurnool tragedy continues, experts are urging the government to enforce safety regulations more strictly, mandate electrical system checks for private bus operators, and penalise unlicensed workshops.
“Unless urgent corrective measures are taken, the combination of negligence, illegal modifications, and weak regulation will continue to put lives at risk on our highways,” said a senior fire department officer.
How the Bus Driver Managed to Escape?
The driver of the ill-fated bus escaped the fire by jumping out through the passenger door, failing to assess the situation, a police official said on Saturday. Both the driver, Miriyala Lakshmaiah (42), and the assistant driver are now in police custody. A case was filed immediately following the incident.
Nineteen passengers on the bus, along with a motorbike rider, were charred to death after the vehicle collided with the two-wheeler in Chinnatekuru village, Kurnool district.