At least 20 people have been killed in a devastating road accident in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Around 3:30 AM local time on Friday (24 October), a passenger bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle near Chinnatekuru in Kurnool. Another 21 passengers sustained injuries.
According to The Times of India, the bus was carrying 41 passengers. So far, authorities have found 21 survivors. Among the remaining 20 victims, 11 bodies have been identified, while the other nine remain unidentified due to severe burns. The injured are receiving treatment at Kurnool Government Hospital, and officials fear the death toll may rise.
Police said the privately operated bus was speeding along National Highway 44 at the time of the collision. The motorcycle allegedly became stuck at the front of the bus, causing a fire to break out moments later. Most of the passengers were asleep, and when the flames spread, the bus doors jammed shut. Some passengers managed to escape by breaking windows, but many were trapped inside.
Locals rushed to the scene hearing screams and tried to extinguish the flames while alerting firefighters. However, the fire had already engulfed the bus by the time help arrived, leaving it nearly completely burned. Police stated that several bodies were so badly charred that identification has become extremely difficult.
Authorities confirmed that the bus driver fled after the crash, and a search operation is underway to locate him. Fire and rescue operations continued until early morning, with the fire now fully under control.
Deputy Inspector General Koya Praveen suggested that combustible materials inside the vehicle likely intensified the blaze. Although the fuel tank remained intact, he said the bus lacked adequate fire safety systems.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently on an official visit to Dubai, expressed deep sorrow. He directed top officials, including the Chief Secretary, to visit the location and oversee rescue efforts, assuring full support for the injured.
In a post on social media, Naidu wrote:
“The bus fire tragedy in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, is extremely unfortunate. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”
