Kurnool bus fire tragedy: bike crash precedes inferno, 19 dead

In the early hours of Friday, a Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus operated by V. Kaveri Travels caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle on National Highway-44 near Chinnatekur, in the Kurnool district. The tragedy left at least 19 people dead and more than 40 others aboard the bus when the blaze tore through the vehicle. Investigators have said the bus may have struck the motorcycle shortly after it skidded on the road, sparking the inferno on the highway.

Forensic teams and police examined the crash site and pieced together what happened. The motorcycle involved had two riders: Shivshankar, who rode, and his friend Nani, who sat pillion. About 200 metres before the accident spot, their bike skidded, tossing both riders. Shivshankar died instantly after his head struck the road, while Nani was hurled over a two-foot-high railing into bushes with only minor injuries. He managed to pull himself up and saw his friend had not survived. Moments later, a speeding bus ran over the bike, and flames quickly enveloped the vehicle, trapping passengers inside.

Survivors reported that they broke windows and escaped the burning sleeper bus, with many recounting the night as a chaotic scramble to flee the inferno. Authorities have formed 16 forensic teams to probe the incident, as investigators piece together the sequence of events and assess whether the bike’s position on the road contributed to the tragedy. The incident occurred on NH-44 in the early hours, as the bus was travelling from Hyderabad toward Bengaluru with more than 40 people onboard. The incident has prompted calls for a thorough inquiry into highway safety and bus-operating standards, as officials continue to collect evidence and verify details from survivors and witnesses.

Cover image source: 16 forensic teams formed to probe Kurnool bus fire tragedy: Andhra Home Minister 🔗

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