Kurnool, Oct 25: A devastating accident early Friday morning on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad National Highway (NH-44) claimed over 25 lives after a luxury bus caught fire near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district.
According to police reports, the Volvo bus belonging to Kaleshwaram Travels was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with more than 43 passengers on board. The incident occurred around 3:30 am when the bus reportedly collided with a two-wheeler on the highway.
The two-wheeler is believed to have become trapped beneath the vehicle, sparking a fire that engulfed the bus within minutes. The flames spread rapidly, leaving the passengers little time to escape.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying, as the bus was completely gutted and turned to ashes. Over 25 passengers were charred to death, and several others sustained injuries. Only 12 passengers managed to survive the blaze, some of them by breaking windows to jump out.
Fire tenders and police teams rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. Rescue operations continued for hours as emergency services worked to douse the flames and retrieve the bodies.
Officials from the Kurnool district administration have initiated an investigation into the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest that the friction caused by the trapped two-wheeler may have triggered the blaze.
The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals in Kurnool for treatment. Authorities are working to identify the victims and inform their families.
The tragic incident has cast a shadow of grief over the region, with several families mourning their loved ones who were returning home or heading for work in Bengaluru.
More details are awaited as the investigation continues.
