KURNOOL, India (BN24) — A devastating crash in southern India on Friday morning left at least 25 people dead when a passenger bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle on a highway in Andhra Pradesh. The fire, which quickly engulfed the vehicle, trapped dozens of passengers, many of whom were sleeping at the time of the crash.
The tragic accident occurred near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district, about 130 miles south of the state capital, Hyderabad. Police confirmed that the bus, which was traveling between Hyderabad in Telangana state and Bengaluru in Karnataka, was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the incident.
According to senior police officer Vikrant Patil, the crash occurred when the motorcycle collided with the rear of the bus, which was speeding along the highway. The motorcycle became lodged beneath the vehicle, dragging behind it for some distance. The friction caused by the dragging motorcycle ignited sparks, which then triggered a fire in the bus’s fuel tank.
“The fire started rapidly, and within minutes the entire bus was consumed by flames,” Patil said. “Many of the passengers were asleep at the time and did not have time to react when the fire broke out.”
Passengers who were awake managed to break windows and escape the burning vehicle. Authorities said 18 people, including a few with minor injuries, were able to flee the bus, but it is unclear how many others managed to get out. Tragically, many passengers were unable to escape the inferno in time.
“Some people were able to smash windows and jump out, while others were trapped and burned alive,” Patil said. “By the time we arrived, the fire had already spread through the bus, and the situation was beyond control.”
The bus driver attempted to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher, but the flames were too intense. Firefighters arrived at the scene, but by that point, the bus was hollowed out, and the damage was already catastrophic. Authorities said the unidentified motorcycle rider, whose body was found near the bus, also died in the incident.
A forensic team is investigating the cause of the crash, though officials have ruled out foul play. Preliminary findings suggest that the collision and the subsequent fire were the primary causes of the fatalities.
The tragic accident highlights ongoing safety concerns in India’s transportation system, especially concerning passenger buses. Earlier this month, at least 20 people were killed in a similar incident in Rajasthan, where a suspected short circuit triggered a fire on a bus.
The bus was part of a fleet operating between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, two major cities in southern India. The incident occurred on National Highway 44, a key route connecting southern and northern India. It is unclear how many passengers had boarded the bus at the time of the crash, as the official passenger list is still being verified.
The local government and Indian authorities have vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly. The regional police chief confirmed that investigators are reviewing both the bus’s mechanical condition and possible human error.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, calling the loss “heartbreaking.” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also extended his sympathies to the families of the victims. The state government has promised compensation for the families of those who died in the fire.
Local villagers who witnessed the scene have described the incident as chaotic, with several people desperately trying to help others escape from the burning bus.
“The smoke and flames were so thick. It was difficult to see anything,” said one resident, who declined to give their name. “We could hear people shouting, but the fire was too strong. It was too late to help.”
This incident underscores the persistent issue of road safety in India, where traffic accidents and fires on passenger vehicles are frequent. In recent years, authorities have pushed for better enforcement of safety standards, but incidents like this continue to highlight the vulnerability of both passengers and drivers.
The deadly fire has also sparked calls for greater safety regulations for inter-state buses, especially in light of the growing number of fatalities linked to fires and crashes on Indian highways.
