20 Dead in Fiery Bus Crash on Hyderabad–Bengaluru Highway; Rescue, Probe Underway

A devastating road accident on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district claimed at least 20 lives early Friday, when a private sleeper bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle near Chinnatekur village. The bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru carrying 41 passengers, including two drivers.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the crash occurred around 3 a.m. when the bus struck a two-wheeler on the busy national highway. The motorcycle reportedly got trapped under the bus, causing the fuel tank to explode and trigger a massive blaze that quickly engulfed the vehicle. Most passengers were asleep at the time, leaving little chance for escape.

District Collector A. Siri confirmed that 21 passengers managed to survive, many sustaining burns and fractures while escaping through broken windows. The charred remains of 20 victims were recovered from the wreckage, with 11 of them identified so far. Rescue teams, firefighters, and local police rushed to the site soon after receiving distress calls and brought the fire under control after several hours of operation.

Survivors described scenes of panic and horror as flames spread rapidly inside the bus. “The doors were jammed; we broke open the emergency exit glass and jumped out,” one passenger recalled. Several others were injured while trying to flee the burning vehicle.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the families of each deceased passenger and ₹2 lakh to those injured. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also extended condolences and declared similar financial aid for victims from his state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the loss of lives and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered a high-level investigation into the cause of the fire, focusing on whether the bus complied with safety and fitness norms. Transport department officials are examining the company’s operating license and the vehicle’s emergency provisions.

The tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of long-distance sleeper buses, particularly on major inter-state routes like Hyderabad–Bengaluru, where night travel is common. Authorities have urged transport operators to ensure strict adherence to safety regulations to prevent such disasters in the future