President, PM Grieve Kurnool Bus Accident Victims
KURNOOL, ANDHRA PRADESH: A devastating accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district this morning has resulted in the tragic deaths of 20 people, including 19 passengers and a motorcycle driver, when a private sleeper bus caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler. Several other passengers sustained injuries.
The private bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, met with the fatal accident near Chinna Tekuru village in Kallur mandal.
According to officials, the collision caused the motorcycle to be dragged under the bus, which swiftly triggered a massive blaze and led to the fuel tank exploding. The fire spread rapidly, and compounding the disaster, the main door of the bus jammed, reportedly due to a short circuit, trapping passengers inside. Only a small number of people managed to escape the inferno through the emergency exit with injuries.
District Collector Dr. A. Siri confirmed that the bus was carrying 41 people, including two drivers. Currently, eleven injured passengers have been hospitalised. Authorities have so far identified 11 of the bodies, and efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining victims.
Following the tragedy, national and state leaders have expressed their deep sorrow.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed their grief over the significant loss of life.
The Prime Minister also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured, to be disbursed from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep anguish and directed officials to ensure the injured passengers receive the best possible medical care.
The Kurnool district administration has since set up multiple control rooms to coordinate relief efforts and provide assistance to the affected families.