TGSRTC Electric Bus Gutted by Fire Near Karimnagar; All 41 Passengers Safe

New Delhi, June 22, 2026: A major disaster was averted on the Rajiv Rahadari (State Highway-1) on Sunday morning when a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) Super Luxury electric bus caught fire and was completely destroyed near Karimnagar. Thanks to the quick reflexes and presence of mind of the driver, all passengers and crew members evacuated safely without a single injury.

Here is a breakdown of how the incident unfolded and the key details:

The Incident at a Glance

• Date & Time: Sunday, June 21, 2026, at approximately 8:20 AM.
• Location: Near Chepala Colony / Algunur outskirts, close to the Kakatiya Canal near Karimnagar.
• Route: From Karimnagar-II Depot heading toward Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Hyderabad.
• Vehicle Number: TG 02T 1138 (Electric Super Luxury Bus).
• Occupants: 41 passengers (including two children) along with the driver and conductor.

Timely Action Averts Catastrophe

The electric bus had departed from the Karimnagar bus station at around 8:00 AM. Roughly twenty minutes into the journey, while crossing the Kakatiya Canal on Rajiv Rahadari, the driver, Boini Prasanth, noticed a burning smell and fumes emerging from the High Voltage (HV) battery compartment.

Recognizing the imminent danger, Prasanth immediately acted:

1. Strategic Parking: He steered the vehicle away from a nearby Indian Oil petrol pump to prevent a massive secondary explosion and brought the bus to a halt safely on the roadside.
2. Rapid Evacuation: He activated the emergency alert system, opened the main doors, and manually assisted in clearing the emergency exit. All 41 passengers managed to disembark within a few minutes.
3. Firefighting Attempt: After ensuring passengers were clear, Prasanth attempted to douse the rapidly spreading flames using the onboard fire extinguishers, though the blaze quickly grew out of control.

Within five minutes of the initial stop, the flames completely engulfed the vehicle. A fire tender from the Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, but the electric bus was reduced to a charred metal frame.

Technical Inspection & Recognition

The LMD Colony police have registered a case and cleared the highway to resume normal traffic flow. A high-level technical investigation has been launched by the Transport Department, led by Joint Commissioner Chandrasekhar Goud and District Transport Commissioner Ravinder, to ascertain whether the fire was triggered by a short circuit or a specific battery malfunction.