THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kurnool, Oct 24: In a tragic and heart-wrenching accident early Friday morning, a passenger bus carrying 41 people caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, leaving 20 passengers charred to death. The remaining 21 were rescued safely.
So far, 11 bodies have been identified, while efforts are underway to identify the others. However, authorities said the bodies were so badly burnt that identification has become extremely difficult. Most of the passengers were reportedly migrant workers travelling between Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
PM announces ex-gratia; expresses condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the accident and announced compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
He stated that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives and property in the accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district” and extended his condolences to the affected families. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Under PMNRF, ₹2 lakh will be provided to the families of each deceased person, while ₹50,000 will be given to the injured.
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Bus catches fire after collision with motorcycle
The tragic incident occurred around 3 a.m. near Chinnatekuru village in Kallur mandal. According to reports, the bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle. The bike got trapped under the bus, causing a fuel leak that led to an explosion and massive fire.
The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the entire vehicle within minutes. At the time of the accident, heavy rain was lashing the area, making the road slippery.
Bodies charred beyond recognition
Local residents rushed to the spot and began rescue operations while alerting the police and fire department. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the bus had been completely gutted.
Several bodies were burnt beyond recognition. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where some are reported to be in critical condition.
Overspeeding and slippery road suspected
Police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that the driver was speeding and may have failed to notice the oncoming motorcycle due to heavy rain.
Authorities have detained the assistant driver, while the main driver has been summoned for questioning. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has also reached the site to collect evidence.
President and Chief Minister express sorrow
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep grief over the tragedy and directed officials to expedite rescue and relief operations while assuring all possible assistance to the victims’ families.
President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the loss of lives, describing the incident as extremely unfortunate. In a post on X, she expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
