Tragic Bus Fire in Kurnool Claims 11 Lives, 9 Still Missing

Kurnool, Oct 2025 : Eleven passengers were charred to death and nine others remain missing after a private bus caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district early Friday, officials said. The bus, operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels, was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 41 passengers, including two children, on board.

According to authorities, 19 passengers managed to escape by breaking the bus windows. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Ullindakonda on National Highway 44 (NH-44). Most of the passengers were asleep when the tragedy struck.

Kurnool District Collector A. Siri told reporters at the scene that 21 passengers have been accounted for so far, 11 of whom were admitted to local hospitals. “We are yet to trace 20 individuals. Eleven bodies have been recovered, and nine passengers are still missing,” she said, adding that the injured are in stable condition.

The bus had departed from Hyderabad around 10:30 p.m. Survivors described a two-wheeler colliding with the bus, which became lodged under its belly, sparking the fire. The motorbike was dragged for approximately 300 meters, and the impact caused fuel to leak, igniting the flames.

One survivor recalled waking up to the screams of fellow passengers and breaking the bus windows to escape. Another survivor, Akash, said the bus was “engulfed in flames within minutes,” and most passengers on board were residents of Hyderabad.

By the time fire services arrived, the Volvo bus was completely gutted. Police and emergency teams immediately began shifting the injured to nearby hospitals while assessing the charred remains.

The Collector noted that officials are still investigating whether the bus hit the bike or if the two-wheeler rammed into the bus. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire originated from the bike, not the bus’s fuel tank.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Koya Praveen explained, “The fuel tank of the bus is intact. The fire started from the bike’s fuel tank, and because the materials under the bus were highly combustible, the flames spread rapidly.”

Two drivers were on board at the time of the incident. One driver has been taken into police custody, while the other is still being traced.

A team comprising doctors, police, fire service personnel, and revenue officials worked at the site to recover the charred remains of passengers. DNA testing is expected to be conducted to confirm the identities of those who perished.

The accident has sent shockwaves across the region, with authorities urging travellers and transport operators to exercise caution on highways, especially during late-night journeys. Survivors have highlighted the speed of the blaze and the lack of immediate evacuation options, underlining the need for safety measures on long-distance buses.

As investigations continue, officials are also reviewing the bus operator’s compliance with safety regulations, including emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and driver training, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The incident is a grim reminder of the dangers faced on India’s highways, particularly during night travel, and has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of road safety norms to safeguard passengers.