KURNOOL DISTRICT, Andhra Pradesh — A fatal bus fire near Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district in the early hours of Friday has left at least 20 people dead and several injured. The incident occurred when a private Volvo bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle and caught fire, quickly engulfing the vehicle.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to officials, the privately-run bus operated by Kaveri Travels carried around 41 people, including two drivers, when the crash occurred around 3 a.m. on National Highway 44.
The motorcycle reportedly struck or became lodged under the bus, causing friction and sparks which ignited fuel leakage, triggering a blaze that spread within minutes.
Survivors recounted that the bus door was jammed after the crash, trapping many passengers who were asleep, and forcing others to escape through broken windows.
Rescue operations deployed multiple fire engines and local authorities identified charred bodies, many beyond recognition, complicating victim identification.
Passengers, Casualties and Initial Response
Out of the 41 on board, officials say around 21 people were rescued; the rest perished in the fire. The bus driver and co-driver reportedly escaped early, according to the District Collector.
The sheer speed of the fire, occurring in the pre-dawn hours when most were sleeping, meant many could not respond to warnings or evacuate. One survivor described awaking to “screams” and “fire on the window side” before breaking free.
Both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments announced ex-gratia payments to the families of victims and injured survivors.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
Officials have registered a case of negligence against the two drivers and are probing the cause of the crash and the subsequent fire. Key concerns include the jamming of the main exit door, lack of accessible emergency exits, and possible safety lapses in the bus’s design or operation. Investigators noted that while the bus’s fuel tank did not itself explode, the motorcycle’s fuel and the drag under the bus triggered igniting sparks.
Experts say the incident raises serious questions about inter-city sleeper bus safety on night routes, emergency readiness and regulatory oversight of private operators.
What This Means for Passenger Safety and Policy
The Kurnool bus fire underlines the complex risks faced by overnight inter-city travellers in India: night-time travel, potential mechanical or external hazards (such as a motorcycle collision), and the rapid escalation when fire safety measures fail.
For passengers, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder to check the safety features of vehicles they board, including emergency exits, window hammers and clear signage. For regulators and transport companies, the crash highlights the need for rigorous inspections, driver training, and real-time monitoring of routes.
Authorities in Andhra Pradesh have urged a review of night-bus regulations, emergency equipment standards and private-bus operator licensing. The incident follows similar deadly bus fires in the same corridor in previous years, emphasizing a pattern that requires systemic change.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fire was triggered after the Hyderabad-Bengaluru bus collided with a motorcycle which became lodged under the vehicle, causing sparks and fuel leakage that led to a rapid blaze.
Initial reports indicate at least 20 people died and several others were injured. The bus was carrying about 41 people including two drivers.
Investigators are focusing on the jamming of the main exit door, lack of emergency evacuation, possible mechanical or design defects, and private-bus operator safety compliance on night routes.
