Another bus accident: Nandyal bus-lorry collision: 3 dead, 36 passengers escape tragedy

Three killed in Nandyal bus-lorry collision; both vehicles caught fire. Locals rescued 36 passengers, four injured. Tragedy renews bus safety concerns

A horrific road accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district early Thursday morning claimed three lives and left dozens shaken, as a private bus carrying 36 passengers collided head-on with a container lorry and burst into flames.

The incident occurred around 1:30 am when the bus, traveling from Nellore to Hyderabad, suffered a sudden right-hand tire burst. The driver lost control of the speeding vehicle, crossed the road divider and rammed into a lorry transporting motorcycles from the opposite direction. The impact was so severe that both vehicles caught fire immediately.

The bus driver, lorry driver and lorry cleaner died on the spot, and their bodies were later shifted to the government hospital for postmortem. Four passengers sustained injuries and were admitted to Nandyal District Government Hospital.

Despite the raging flames, all 36 passengers in the bus survived thanks to the swift response of local residents, along with the bus cleaner and conductor, who broke the windows and pulled passengers to safety. Their timely intervention prevented what could have been a mass casualty tragedy.

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Fire brigade and police teams rushed to the scene and battled the blaze with difficulty, but by the time the flames were extinguished both vehicles had been reduced to ashes. The accident caused major traffic disruption on the national highway for several hours.

This incident has reignited public concern over the safety of private buses, particularly during night travel. The tragedy comes just months after the October 2025 Kurnool bus fire that killed 20 passengers, raising questions about vehicle maintenance and regulatory oversight. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the Nandyal accident.

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