Causes of Kurnool bus fire that killed 20 in Andhra Pradesh

Bengaluru-Hyderabad Highway, Kurnool Bus Fire Accident Today: Kurnool District Collector A Siri said 41 passengers were on board the Kaveri Travels bus. So far, 20 people have been confirmed dead.

A devastating bus fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district claimed at least 20 lives early Friday, after a Hyderabad–Bengaluru private bus caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle on the NH-44 highway near Ullindakonda.

Officials said the luxury bus, owned by Kaveri Travels, was carrying 41 passengers when the accident occurred around 3:10 am. According to preliminary investigations, the motorcycle collided with the bus, rupturing the bike’s fuel tank. The leaking petrol is believed to have triggered sparks from friction, setting off the massive blaze that engulfed the vehicle within minutes. The bus’s own diesel tank also caught fire, trapping passengers inside.

Kurnool District Collector A. Siri confirmed that 20 people, including the motorcycle rider, were killed in the tragedy, while several others were injured and rushed to Kurnool Government Hospital. The incident had occurred when the bike hit the front side of the bus, causing the fuel to leak and ignite. The fire spread rapidly, giving passengers no time to react, he said.

Also Read: Hyderabad-Bengaluru sleeper bus catches fire near Kurnool: Over 20 charred to death, 15 injured

While the driver, co-driver, and the cabin attendant managed to escape and alert authorities, survivors recounted that most passengers were asleep and awoke only after flames had spread. The bus’s main door jammed due to damaged wiring, forcing several passengers to break emergency windows to jump out and save their lives.

This marks the second major bus fire on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad route, recalling the 2013 Palem tragedy in Mahbubnagar district that killed 45 people under similar circumstances. Officials revealed the vehicle had multiple traffic challans for overspeeding and safety violations in Telangana.
Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene to retrieve bodies and clear debris, while the Andhra Pradesh government ordered a high-level probe.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences and directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed sympathy to the victims’ families and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who died, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.