 "Kurnool bus accident: The massive blaze claimed at least 20 lives and left many others injured. Around 21 passengers jumped out of the window, saving their lives. AP")
In the early hours of Friday, tragedy struck on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway when a private bus suddenly went up in flames near Chinna Tekuru village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district.
The massive blaze claimed at least 20 lives and left many others injured, according to a NDTV report. While around 21 passengers jumped out of the window, saving their lives.
Police said the Volvo bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was en route to Bengaluru when it collided with a two-wheeler during early hours on National Highway 44 near Kurnool. The impact triggered a fire that started in the front section of the vehicle and rapidly engulfed the entire bus within minutes.
Here’s what we know so far about how the tragedy unfolded.
What caused the Kurnool bus fire?
A preliminary probe has found that the tragic blaze began after a motorcycle collided with the Kaveri Travels’ AC bus, leading to a chain of deadly explosions.
Officials believe the two-wheeler’s fuel tank ruptured on impact, spilling petrol on the road. The leaking fuel, combined with the friction from the crash, sparked the flames. Within moments, the bus’s fuel tank also exploded, setting off a fire that spread rapidly and trapped the passengers inside.
Kurnool District Collector A Siri told reporters that 41 passengers were on board the bus when the accident occurred, most of them asleep. The blaze was immediate, leaving little time for people to escape, he said.
At least 21 passengers survived, including both bus drivers, who managed to flee as the fire spread.
Of the 20 victims, the bodies of 11 have been identified so far, according to officials quoted by PTI. The rest are being identified through forensic tests due to the extent of the burns.
Survivor recalls horror
Jayant Kushwaha, one of the survivors, told ANI that he was in shock after seeing the bus engulfed in flames. He said the bus had its last washroom stop around 12:30 am, but at around 2:30 am, the bus suddenly came to a halt.
“I didn’t realise what was happening at first. There was panic everywhere as people began to wake up. That’s when we saw the fire. The main door was jammed,” he recalled.
Passengers later learned that the driver had collided with a two-wheeler and dragged the rider under the bus, which triggered the blaze.
“The front and left side of the bus caught fire. When the main door wouldn’t open, I went for the rear emergency exit. With a lot of effort, punching, hitting it with my shoulder and head, we managed to break the back window, which was about eight or nine feet above the ground. I threw my carry-on bag with my laptop out and jumped. Around nine or ten others jumped too. Many were injured when they landed. The driver who caused the crash escaped, as did the second driver. Around 19 or 20 of us survived,” he said.
Jayant, who is a frequent traveller on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route, added, “Maybe the bus was old. It looked old. The emergency window, the driver’s cabin, everything was jammed.”
Another injured passenger, Harika, recalled that the blaze started and spread across the bus within seconds. “The back door was broken, so I jumped out from there. In the process of jumping, I got hurt,” she told NDTV.
Locals rushed to help, hearing people cry for assistance as they tried to escape. They aided the injured until the Kurnool fire department arrived with four fire engines, but by then, the bus had already been reduced to ashes.
The tragic fire had claimed the life of a family from Nellore. As per local media, Golla Ramesh (35), wife Anusha (30), children Shashank (12), and Manyata (10), all from Gollavaripalli in Vinjamur mandal of Nellore district, died in the accident.
Jayant said that by around 9:30 am, eleven passengers had been taken to the hospital, while a few with minor injuries managed to reach Hyderabad or Bengaluru on their own.
“The ambulance and fire trucks arrived nearly an hour later, around 2:30 or 3 am. Thankfully, a policewoman passing by in her private vehicle stopped and called for help. The fire was finally put out by about 4:30 am. We gave our statements to the police,” he added.
The Andhra Pradesh transport authorities have now launched an inspection into the bus’s safety condition and whether it complied with fire and maintenance regulations.
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PM Modi condoles deaths, announces ex gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the Kurnool bus tragedy and announced ex gratia compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Families of the deceased will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those injured will be given Rs 50,000.
The Prime Minister’s Office said on X, “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her condolences and wished for a “speedy recovery of the injured.” She said, “The loss of lives in a tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is deeply unfortunate. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
State leaders joined in expressing grief over the tragedy. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaih and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also shared their condolences.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reacted on X, writing, “The tragic and painful incident of a bus catching fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of many innocent people, is deeply saddening. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of all the passengers who lost their lives in this tragedy and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
With input from agencies