Kurnool, Oct 24: At least 20 people were killed and several others injured after a private bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire following a collision on National Highway-44 near Chinatekur village in Kurnool district early Friday morning, officials said.
The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. when the speeding bus rammed into a motorcycle. The impact caused the bike to get trapped under the vehicle, rupturing its fuel tank and triggering a massive blaze that engulfed the entire bus within moments.
“There were about 40 passengers on board. Nineteen managed to escape by smashing windows and jumping out through the emergency exit, but many suffered serious burns,” said a senior police officer at the site. The injured were admitted to the Kurnool Government Hospital.
Survivors described scenes of panic as thick smoke filled the bus. “The flames spread instantly, and the door wouldn’t open. We broke windows and jumped out,” said one passenger undergoing treatment.
Fire tenders and rescue teams rushed to the spot, but by the time the flames were doused, only the metal frame of the bus remained. Officials said several bodies were charred beyond recognition, complicating identification.
While initial reports put the toll at 12, later updates confirmed at least 20 deaths, with officials warning that the number could rise.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow and ordered an inquiry into the tragedy. “It’s a heartbreaking accident. The government will extend all possible help to the victims’ families,” he said in a statement.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the collision and fuel tank explosion caused the fire. Police are verifying whether the vehicle had undergone safety checks and whether its emergency exits were functional.
The ill-fated bus, operated by a private company, was heading to Bengaluru when the accident turned the overnight journey into one of the deadliest highway tragedies in recent years in Andhra Pradesh.
