At least 11 passengers were charred to death and 21 others injured after a private Volvo bus caught fire following a collision with a two-wheeler near Chinnatekur village on the outskirts of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, in the early hours of Friday. The vehicle, carrying over 40 passengers, was en route to Bengaluru from Hyderabad when the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on National Highway 44 (NH-44).
According to police, the accident took place when a two-wheeler collided with the bus and got trapped under its chassis. Sparks generated from the dragged bike, coupled with a fuel leak, triggered a massive blaze that engulfed the bus within minutes. The motorbike rider, identified as Shiva Shankar (20), a resident of Kurnool town, also lost his life in the incident.
Officials confirmed that 21 passengers managed to escape by breaking the emergency exits and windows, while several others remained trapped as the fire spread rapidly. Survivors recounted that most passengers were asleep when the collision occurred, and chaos ensued as smoke and flames filled the cabin.
“It all happened in minutes. The fire started from the front portion of the bus where the bike was stuck. We broke the window glass and jumped out,” said one of the survivors, Akash.
The ill-fated bus, operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels and registered in Odisha, had begun its journey from Hyderabad around 10:30 p.m. It was carrying 43 people, including two drivers, ten women, and two children.
Kurnool District Collector A. Siri confirmed that 11 injured passengers were admitted to hospitals in Kurnool and their condition remained stable. The Collector also stated that the exact sequence of the collision was still under investigation to determine whether the two-wheeler hit the bus or vice versa.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Koya Praveen, who inspected the site, said preliminary findings suggest the fire originated from the bike’s fuel tank. “The bus’s fuel tank is intact. The fire started from the bike and spread rapidly due to the highly combustible materials under the vehicle,” he said.
Firefighters and police teams rushed to the spot but found the vehicle completely gutted by the time they arrived. Forensic teams have been deployed to collect evidence and assist in identifying the victims, as many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. DNA tests will be conducted to confirm their identities.
Among the deceased were four members of a family, Golla Ramesh (35), Anusha (30), and their children, Manivata (10) and Manisha (12).
On the instructions of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Gadwal District officials reached the accident site to coordinate relief efforts and assist families of the victims. Thirteen ambulances were dispatched from Hyderabad to Kurnool to transport the bodies.
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister M. Ramprasad Reddy visited the site and assured full support from the state government to the families of the deceased. The victims were reported to be from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
The tragic incident has once again raised concerns over night-time highway safety and fire preparedness in passenger transport vehicles.
