Andhra Pradesh bus tragedy: How bike collision and jammed door turned ride into deadly blaze on Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway; passengers broke windows to escape

NEW DELHI: At least 20 people were killed after a private Kaveri Travels bus caught fire on Friday following a collision with a bike at Chinna Tekuru village in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district.

The blaze erupted within minutes, trapping passengers inside and leaving many charred to death.Here's what happened Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus hit a bike, which went under the vehicle and caught fire, eventually causing the bus to explode.The private bus was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with over 40 passengers on board.DIG Koya Praveen said that while the impact with the bike ignited the fire, combustible materials inside the bus contributed to many deaths.

He added that the fuel tank remained intact and the bus lacked adequate safety measures to prevent or mitigate fire incidents.Casualties and Identification Dr Siri said that 21 people have been traced so far. Of the remaining 20, 11 bodies have been identified, while 9 are yet to be identified. She also noted that the bus door got jammed after the fire broke out, preventing passengers from escaping.

Survivors Escape Through Windows Twelve passengers managed to escape through windows, many sustaining burn injuries, while others were trapped as the blaze spread rapidly.

Similar Incident in Rajasthan The Kurnool tragedy comes just days after a similar bus fire in Rajasthan, where 22 people, including three children, were killed near Thaiyat village on October 14. Investigations revealed a short circuit in the air-conditioning system caused that blaze, confirmed by FSL, transport department, and CIRT teams.