19 killed as Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus catches fire in Andhra’s Kurnool
A Vemuri Kaveri Travels sleeper bus caught fire near Kurnool, killing 19 passengers. Preliminary reports cite collision with a motorbike and multiple safety violations. Survivors recount frantic escapes as authorities launch investigations into negligence
Hyderabad: Tragedy struck in the predawn hours as a sleeper bus of Vemuri Kaveri Travels (VKaveri Travels) caught fire near Kurnool on Friday, killing 19 passengers, who were fast asleep. The AC luxury sleeper, on its way from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, was completely gutted.
The blaze was allegedly ignited after a high-speed collision with a motorbike, which killed the biker instantly. Subsequent investigation, however, quickly shifted focus from the accident to criminal negligence as preliminary reports revealed multiple systemic safety violations allegedly by the operator.
Authorities confirmed late Friday that the bus had been modified into a sleeper coach. Furthermore, the bus was being operated with expired insurance and had at least 16 pending traffic challans for various violations, revealing widespread non-compliance of rules by the operator.
Kurnool District Collector A Siri confirmed that 41 people, including the driver, were onboard. “Twenty-two passengers have been traced, and those rescued are stable,” she said. The Collector added that many could not escape because the incident occurred while they were asleep, and the main door failed to open immediately, an issue suspected to be due to electrical damage, critically worsening the tragedy.
Accounts from the survivors paint a harrowing scene. S Harika, a Chennai-based IT professional from Nellore, while interacting with local media, said she woke up to flames engulfing the coach. “A passenger broke the rear door, and we all jumped out. I suffered a minor injury,” she said.
Another survivor, Surya from Hyderabad, suffered leg fractures after leaping from the burning vehicle. “The fire spread within seconds. I was heading to Bengaluru for a job interview,” he said.
Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen stated that the fire seemed to have begun from the bike’s fuel tank after the collision. “The bus’ fuel tank remained intact, but the materials underneath were highly combustible, causing the fire to spread rapidly,” he said. Both the bus drivers, who escaped unhurt, have been detained for questioning.
Forensic experts deployed 16 specialised teams to the site to collect DNA samples and conduct on-site procedures for identifying the 19 victims, most of whom were charred beyond recognition.
Authorities have identified the victims’ homes, which included six passengers from Telangana, six from Andhra Pradesh, one each from Bihar and Odisha, two each from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. One victim is yet to be identified.
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister M Ramprasad Reddy visited the accident site, promising full support to the families of the victims. Meanwhile, the Telangana government dispatched 13 ambulances to bring the bodies back to Hyderabad. Officials confirmed the bus lacked fire safety equipment, and the Road Transport Authority has been directed to tighten enforcement and ensure all private operators comply with safety standards.
