Deadly Blaze Traps Passengers: Bike Collision Jammed Door in Andhra Pradesh Bus Tragedy
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh — A horrific bus tragedy on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad National Highway has claimed the lives of at least 20 people after a collision with a bike quickly escalated into a deadly blaze, trapping passengers inside the inferno. The incident occurred near Chinna Tekuru village in the Kurnool district.
The private Kaveri Travels bus was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with over 40 passengers on board when disaster struck. Preliminary investigations reveal the bus hit a motorbike, which was dragged beneath the vehicle, igniting a severe fire. Authorities stated that the bus, lacking adequate fire safety measures, rapidly turned into a deathtrap.
The most tragic element of the accident was the immediate jamming of the bus door upon impact and the outbreak of the fire. This mechanical failure sealed off the primary escape route for the terrified passengers. As the blaze consumed the bus within minutes, at least 20 individuals were charred to death, with nine bodies still awaiting identification.
In a desperate bid for survival, twelve passengers managed to break open windows and escape the burning wreckage, many sustaining burn injuries. DIG Koya Praveen noted that while the collision initiated the fire, the presence of combustible materials inside the bus contributed significantly to the high casualty count.
The Kurnool tragedy comes just days after a similar fatal bus fire in Rajasthan, prompting renewed scrutiny over mandatory safety protocols and enforcement for private passenger vehicles across the country. An investigation is underway to determine the full extent of safety lapses and hold those responsible accountable.
