Devastating Tragedy on NH-44: Kurnool Bus Fire Claims 20 Lives Amid Allegations and Driver’s Conflicting Accounts

A routine journey turned into a horrific nightmare on National Highway 44 near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, as a private sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Friday, claiming the lives of at least 20 people, including the rider of a two-wheeler involved in the initial collision. The tragedy has been compounded by shocking revelations regarding safety lapses, tragic stories of loss, and a significant twist in one of the bus driver’s accounts, raising serious questions about negligence.

The Catastrophic Incident

The devastating accident occurred around 3:00 am near Chinnatekur village. The private luxury bus, belonging to V Kaveri Travels and reportedly carrying 41 passengers, two drivers, and a cleaner, collided with a motorcycle traveling in the same direction.

• The Cause of the Fire: According to police and passenger accounts, the collision caused the two-wheeler to get trapped and dragged under the bus. This impact is believed to have ruptured the motorcycle’s fuel tank, spilling petrol which was then ignited by sparks—likely from the friction of the dragging bike—causing an immediate and explosive fire.
• Rapid Spread: The fire spread with terrifying speed, quickly engulfing the multi-axle sleeper coach. Disturbing forensic findings suggest that the presence of an illegally carried parcel containing hundreds of mobile phones in the luggage compartment significantly intensified the blaze due to the explosion of lithium batteries, accelerating the fire’s reach and deadliness.
• Victims Trapped: Most of the passengers were fast asleep when the fire erupted. Survivors recount a desperate struggle to escape as the main door was reportedly locked or jammed and the emergency exit failed to open properly. Many managed to survive only by breaking the window panes and jumping out, often sustaining injuries. Tragically, those trapped inside, particularly in the front berths directly above the luggage area, were charred beyond recognition. The deceased included two children and the motorcyclist.

Tragic Tales of Loss and Heroism

The tragedy has left behind a trail of sorrow, with many victims identified as tech professionals and families returning to Bengaluru after celebrating the Diwali festival.

• Families Annihilated: Among the heart-wrenching stories is that of an entire family—a husband, wife, and their two children—who perished in the inferno.
• The Survivors’ Ordeal: Survivors shared harrowing accounts of waking up to screams, thick smoke, and flames, having to smash windows to ensure their escape. One survivor, N. Ramesh, managed to save his own family by breaking the bus window after realizing the rear emergency door was locked.
• Identification Challenge: The intensity of the fire left many bodies severely damaged, complicating the identification process, which is being carried out using passenger manifests and, if necessary, DNA testing.

The Driver’s Flip-Flop and Allegations of Negligence

The focus has sharply turned to the bus drivers and the state of the vehicle, with clear indications of severe negligence.

• Case Filed: A case of negligence and overspeeding has been registered against the two drivers based on the complaint of a survivor.
• Absconding Driver: M. Lakshmaiah, the driver who was reportedly at the wheel during the crash, fled the scene immediately after the incident.
• The Conflicting Account: The second driver, Siva Narayana, who is currently in police custody, has given conflicting statements. Initially, he claimed the accident occurred amid heavy rain with reduced visibility. He later changed his statement, alleging that the motorcycle and its rider were already lying on the road due to a “previous accident,” and that Lakshmaiah drove over them. This ‘flip-flop’ adds a layer of suspicion to the investigation.
• Safety Lapses: Investigations have exposed critical safety failures: the bus lacked essential safety equipment like glass-breaking hammers, had a history of multiple unpaid traffic violation challans in Telangana for dangerous driving, and was illegally carrying a commercial consignment of mobile phones, a highly flammable cargo. Furthermore, the jammed or locked doors significantly contributed to the high death toll by preventing a quick evacuation.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed deep shock and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, directing officials to inspect the fitness and safety of all private travel buses and to take strict action against those responsible for any negligence. The government has announced ex-gratia to the families of the deceased and the injured.