A massive tragedy struck Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district early Friday morning when a Hyderabad-bound private bus caught fire following a collision, leaving 20 people dead and several others injured. The devastating incident occurred near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal, when the bus, carrying 41 passengers, collided with a motorcycle around 3 a.m., triggering a fuel leak that caused the vehicle to burst into flames within minutes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and announced financial aid for the victims’ families. “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) posted on X.
As part of the relief measures, an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while ₹50,000 will be given to those injured in the mishap.
Kurnool District Collector A. Siri confirmed that 21 passengers managed to escape safely, thanks to the timely intervention of locals and rescue teams. “The accident occurred between 3 and 3:10 a.m. when the bus hit a bike, causing a fuel leak that led to a massive fire. So far, 11 bodies have been identified, and efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining victims,” the Collector said.
The ill-fated Volvo bus, operated by a private travel company, was traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru when the accident took place. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as flames engulfed the vehicle rapidly, leaving little time for passengers to react.
Firefighters and police officials rushed to the spot and managed to douse the blaze after several hours. The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the accident, while authorities are working to provide medical assistance and counseling to survivors.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed his condolences and directed officials to ensure that the injured receive the best possible treatment. The state government has assured additional support for affected families once the investigation report is submitted.
