At least 25 passengers lost their lives when a V Kaveri Travels bus caught fire near Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district during the early morning hours.
Several others were injured, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Preliminary investigations indicate a chain of events that escalated the disaster. Authorities believe a motorbike, crushed beneath the bus during a sudden collision, may have leaked petrol. Sparks from friction between metal surfaces are reported to have ignited the fuel, which then spread to the bus’s diesel tanks. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with passengers struggling to escape through jammed doors and emergency exits.
The accident occurred around 3 a.m., during heavy rainfall, when the bus collided head-on with a motorbike ridden by 23-year-old Siva Kumar, a resident of Kurnool. The motorbike became trapped under the bus and was dragged nearly 300 metres along the highway.
Survivors recounted a nightmarish ordeal, with some leaping from windows while others forced open emergency exits. Four critically injured passengers are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals. Reports indicate the driver fled the scene, raising questions about accountability and training standards for commercial operators.
The bus was carrying 43 people, including two children. Panic spread as the fire intensified, and the main hydraulic door jammed, forcing passengers to break windows and use the emergency exit. Despite rescue efforts, half of the passengers were trapped inside. Police confirmed that 23 people, including the two drivers, escaped, while 19 bodies were recovered from the wreckage. Forensic teams are still searching for one untraced passenger.
Deputy Inspector General of Kurnool, Koya Praveen, stated that preliminary investigations suggest sparks caused by the trapped motorbike ignited fuel, and the bus body, suspected of being made from substandard combustible materials, accelerated the fire. Officials are also probing whether overspeeding or reckless driving contributed to the collision.
Authorities highlighted broader issues contributing to the tragedy, including gaps in traffic law enforcement, oversight of private transport operators, and road infrastructure. Weather conditions, such as overnight rainfall, may have compounded the incident, but investigators emphasised that human error, combustible vehicle materials, and delayed emergency response were decisive factors.
Control rooms have been established to assist victims’ families, and a high-level investigation is underway. DNA samples are being collected to identify the deceased, while authorities and transport regulators face scrutiny over enforcing safety standards effectively.
Control rooms have been established to help families of victims obtain information:
Gadwal Collectorate: 9502271122
Helpdesk: 9100901599, 9100901598
Gadwal Police: 8712661828
Kurnool Government General Hospital: 9100901604
Senior officials from Kurnool and Gadwal districts, along with police and administrative personnel from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, continue to coordinate relief and investigation efforts.