Andhra bus fire accident: 14 killed in Markapuram district
Police say some passengers sustained minor injuries and were undergoing treatment at a hospital, while officials continue to collect further information
At least 14 people were killed and about 22 were injured in a bus fire accident in Rayavaram in Markapuram district on Thursday (March 26), police said. The victims were burnt alive.
According to local TV channels, the bus collided with a gravel-loaded tipper.
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Police said some passengers sustained minor injuries and were undergoing treatment at a hospital, while officials continue to collect further information.
Markapuram Superintendent of Police (SP) V Harshavardhan Raju said, "Fourteen people died in the accident and 23 injured persons have been shifted to hospital, including the driver. Efforts are on to gather complete details of the incident."
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Rescue teams are working to identify the victims and gather details of their relatives, who will be informed once verification is completed, he said.
Nagraju said that some bodies are still believed to be trapped inside the bus, which caught fire following the accident, making retrieval operations difficult.
PM announces ex-gratia
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the accident and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the tragic mishap. He conveyed his condolences to those who have lost their loved ones and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The Prime Minister announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) posted on X, “The mishap in Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh, is tragic. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi (sic).”