Tragic Kurnool Bus Fire After Motorcycle Crash Claims 20 Lives, 12 Injured Rushed to Hospital

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A late-night journey turned into tragedy when a Bengaluru-bound bus caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district early on Friday. The Kurnool bus fire took 20 lives and left 12 people injured. The private Volvo bus, run by Kaveri Travels, was coming from Hyderabad when it met with an accident near Chinnatekur village on National Highway 44.

How the Accident Happened


Police said the bus hit a motorcycle around 3:30 am. The bike got stuck under the bus, and its fuel tank burst, leading to a huge fire. The flames spread quickly through the air-conditioned bus, trapping many sleeping passengers inside. Some managed to escape by breaking windows and jumping out before the bus was fully covered in flames.

Local people rushed to the spot after hearing screams and tried to save those trapped inside. Firefighters arrived soon after and took about an hour to control the blaze. Rescue teams moved the injured to Kurnool Government General Hospital. Many passengers were from Hyderabad and were traveling to Bengaluru for work. Officials are collecting DNA samples to identify several victims whose bodies were badly burned.

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Leaders Express Grief and Action Taken

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He announced Rs. 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for the injured. “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the mishap in Kurnool. My prayers are with the affected families,” the PM’s Office posted on X.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also shared his condolences. He said the government will give all possible help to the injured and the families of the victims. Former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and President Droupadi Murmu also offered prayers and expressed grief over the tragic event.

According to the police, the fire spread fast because of the fuel leakage. The Forensic Science team is checking if any technical fault worsened the blaze. Transport officials are reviewing the bus company’s safety documents and the vehicle’s fitness certificate.

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This Andhra Pradesh accident has raised serious concerns about the safety of long-distance buses. Authorities have now asked all private bus operators to check their safety systems and keep emergency tools ready for passengers.

The heartbreaking and tragic Kurnool bus fire incident has once more emphasized the critical demand for the implementation of more stringent safety regulations and faster emergency responses on Indian highways.