20 Killed as Bus Erupts in Flames on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Highway

A devastating road tragedy struck in the early hours of Friday morning, as a private sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire near Chinna Tekuru village in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of at least 20 passengers.

The horrific incident, which occurred around 3:00 AM, saw the bus, reportedly carrying over 40 passengers, engulfed in flames following a collision. According to preliminary reports from local police and district officials, the bus, operated by a private travel company, struck a motorcycle, which reportedly got lodged beneath the vehicle. The impact is suspected to have caused a fuel leak from the bike, generating sparks that rapidly ignited a blaze.

The fire spread with terrifying speed, turning the vehicle into a blazing inferno within minutes. Eyewitness accounts and initial investigations suggest that the bus door may have jammed following the impact or due to a short circuit, trapping numerous passengers inside while they were asleep.

While a few passengers, estimated to be around 12, managed to escape by desperately breaking open windows and the emergency exit, many others were tragically charred to death. District Collector Dr. A. Siri confirmed that out of approximately 41 people on board, 21 have been traced as safe, while efforts are underway to identify the 20 bodies recovered from the wreckage. Officials noted that the lack of adequate safety measures to mitigate or prevent a fire, compounded by the rapid spread of flames from combustible materials inside the bus, contributed to the high death toll.

Prime Minister Announces Financial Aid

Expressing profound grief over the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia compensation for the victims. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that an amount of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Additionally, Rs. 50,000 would be provided to those injured in the tragedy, as the Prime Minister prayed for their speedy recovery.

Official Reaction and Inquiry Ordered

The incident drew immediate condolences and directives from political leaders across the states. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock and directed senior administrative officials to rush to the site, oversee rescue and relief operations, and ensure the best possible medical care for the injured who have been shifted to Kurnool Government Hospital.

Chief Minister Naidu further ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the devastating accident, seeking a complete report on the private bus’s registration, fitness, and permit details, and warned that strict action would be taken if negligence is proven. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also expressed shock and instructed his state officials to coordinate with Andhra Pradesh authorities on relief measures. The incident has once again brought into sharp focus the critical need for stringent enforcement of road safety regulations and maintenance standards, particularly for long-distance private passenger buses.