Kurnool bus fire leaves 20 dead: People perish in sleep, fully charred
The Bengaluru-Hyderabad bus, carrying 41 people on board, caught fire after hitting a bike at Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district
Twenty passengers were killed in a fire in an ill-fated private bus in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Friday (October 24). The private bus from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler. Only a few, jolted awake by the flames, managed to break the windows and escape through the emergency exit.
For most, death struck without a warning. Several passengers were fast asleep and died without even realising what was happening when the Bengaluru-bound bus caught fire around 3 AM after an accident involving a motorcycle, leaving 20 dead on the spot. Most victims were charred beyond recognition.
The blaze completely gutted the sleeper bus, reducing it to a metal skeleton. There were some techies onboard when the accident happened and the survivors recalled the tense moments leading to their miraculous escape, even while suffering broken limbs and other minor injuries.
Killed in sleep
Nellore-based S Harika said she was asleep and "when I woke up I saw fire engulfing the bus which spread within seconds." "The rear door was broken by a passenger for escaping and we all jumped out from it and I suffered a minor injury on the forehead," she told PTI.
An IT employee, Harika is now under observation in a hospital. She stated her condition was fine.
Surya, a survivor who lives in Hyderabad said that around 2:45 am the fire engulfed the bus. He said that he was heading to Bengaluru for a job interview at a top IT firm on Saturday. "My legs are fractured because I jumped from over 15 feet height. The doctor said I will be fine soon," he told PTI.
According to Kurnool District Collector A Siri, a total of 41 people, including the driver, were in the bus. Of the 41 onboard, 21 have been traced.
Doors jammed
Those who escaped the accident are stable and out of danger, she said.
Many passengers could not escape the tragedy as it occurred during the night when they were asleep, she said. She said the bus door did not open immediately as some wires got cut which increased the severity of the tragedy.
Most of the passengers belonged to Hyderabad, Siri added.
A Bengaluru-bound private bus from Hyderabad caught fire in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on early Friday (October 24) after colliding with a two-wheeler, leaving 20 people dead, a senior police official said.
Official sources indicated that the toll may rise. Among the deceased was the biker.
According to initial reports, the motorcycle collided with the luxury bus near Chinnatekur in Kurnool and got dragged underneath with its fuel cap open, triggering the blaze.
"Police are entering the bus to assess the situation, and the fate of nine other passengers is yet to be ascertained," Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen said.
Also read: 21 injured as govt bus overturns on rain-slicked road in Villupuram
According to the police, the accident occurred at 3 am.
The bus door got jammed due to a short circuit and the vehicle was completely gutted within minutes. Most survivors were aged between 25 and 35 years, police said.
Rain hampers rescue work
The police and fire personnel rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to Kurnool Government Hospital for treatment.
Heavy rain in the area hampered rescue operations. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the tragic incident.
President Droupadi Murmu, in a post on X, condoled the deaths. "The loss of lives in a tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is deeply unfortunate. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," she said.
Read live updates here.
Live Updates
- 24 Oct 2025 2:22 PM IST
'Unfit buses' will be seized; no compromise on the safety of citizens: Telangana Transport Minister
Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud on Friday (October 24) issued a stern warning that “unfit buses” flouting government safety norms would be seized, stressing that there could be “no playing with the lives of citizens.”
“We have directed transport authorities to seize any unfit buses to eliminate potential threats to life. Transport personnel have been clearly instructed that buses will be confiscated if they fail to comply with the rules. There is no playing with the lives of citizens,” Minister Goud told ANI.
He added that the Telangana government was providing minute-by-minute updates on the medical treatment being given to those injured in the Kurnool bus tragedy. “The Andhra Pradesh minister and local officials are in touch and ensuring strict safety measures,” he said.
- 24 Oct 2025 12:48 PM IST
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu orders comprehensive probe into Kurnool bus tragedy
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu convened a video conference to review the Kurnool bus accident. The meeting was attended by Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and senior officials.
The Chief Minister directed transport ministers and officials from other states to coordinate efforts for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. He instructed authorities to identify the victims and provide immediate relief to their families.
Naidu also ordered the Health Department to ensure the best possible medical care for those injured in the mishap. Directions were issued to conduct fitness, safety, and permit inspections for all private travel buses. The Transport Department was further instructed to launch technical inspections of buses across all districts.
The Chief Minister warned that strict action would be taken if any negligence was found to have caused the accident.
Minister Ramprasad Reddy emphasised that public safety remains the government’s top priority and assured that financial assistance would be provided swiftly to the families of the deceased. He said he had personally visited the accident site and was monitoring the situation.
The Chief Minister also sought a detailed report on the registration, fitness, and permit details of the private bus involved in the tragedy.
Both Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Ramprasad Reddy reiterated that there would be no compromise on public safety in Andhra Pradesh.
- 24 Oct 2025 11:42 AM IST
Telangana govt sets up helpline for kin of accident victims
The Telangana government has set up a helpline to assist the families of passengers.
The government, in a release, said that its officers M Sriramachandra (M 9912919545) and E Chittibabu (M 9440854433) can be contacted for help.
The helpline was set up following a directive by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who spoke to government Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy.
The chief minister instructed IAS officer S Harish, and the collector and SP of Gadwal district of Telangana, and neighbouring Kurnool district respectively, to reach the accident site and coordinate relief measures.
- 24 Oct 2025 11:28 AM IST
Bus had 16 traffic challans for violations: RTO
According to the RTO, the bus had 16 pending challans in Telangana for traffic violations with the total fine amounting to Rs 23,120.
Between January 27, 2024, and October 9, 2025, the bus had reportedly violated traffic rules 16 times.
Out of these, nine violations were for entering ‘no entry’ zones, while others were for over-speeding and dangerous driving.
The bus, owned by Vemuri Kaveri Travels, was operated by Vemuri Vinod Kumar, a resident of Rayagada in Odisha.
Transport Department’s statement
According to the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department, the bus was registered under the number DD01 N9490. Officials stated that the bus was mechanically sound, and the fire broke out due to the severe impact when it collided with the motorcycle.
“The bus was being operated under the name Kaveri Travels. It was originally registered in Daman & Diu on May 2, 2018. The vehicle had a tourist permit valid till April 30, 2030, a fitness certificate valid till March 31, 2027, and insurance valid till April 20, 2026.”
- 24 Oct 2025 10:54 AM IST
Kurnool bus tragedy: How the bus door got jammed
Kurnool District Collector A Siri said that 41 people were travelling in the bus, including the driver. Of the 41 on board, 21 have been traced. Those who escaped the accident are stable and out of danger, she said.
Many passengers could not escape the tragedy as it occurred during the night when they were asleep, she added. She said the door of the bus did not open immediately because some wires got cut, which increased the severity of the tragedy.
Most of the passengers belonged to Hyderabad, Siri added.
- 24 Oct 2025 10:41 AM IST
Forensic team investigates deadly Kurnool bus fire tragedy
The forensic team carries out an investigation at the spot where a bus burst into flames near the Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool, claiming the lives of 20 people.
- 24 Oct 2025 9:57 AM IST
20 escaped, many trapped: Passenger recalls horror as bus caught fire at midnight
A passenger who was travelling in the bus that caught fire, says, "Last night, we boarded the bus at Kukatpally to travel to Bengaluru. I was seated behind the driver’s seat. After a long journey, between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., I noticed a fire on the window side and immediately alerted the driver. The bus was stopped right away. Meanwhile, we tried to break the windows to escape. Around 20 people managed to get out of the bus, but the others were unable to escape..."
- 24 Oct 2025 9:47 AM IST
Main door locked; many jumped out by breaking windows: Passenger
A passenger who was travelling in the bus that caught fire, says, "...Around 2.30-2.40 am, the bus stopped and I woke up and I saw that the bus caught fire...Everyone in the bus was sleeping. We woke everyone...We broke the emergency window as the main door was locked...We jumped out of the window...Many people jumped out of the bus by breaking the windows..."
- 24 Oct 2025 9:19 AM IST
11 of 20 bodies identified; 21 passengers were rescued: Kurnool District Collector
Kurnool District Collector Dr A Siri said that 21 out of the 41 passengers have been rescued. He also said that 11 of the 20 dead passengers have been identified, and efforts are on to identify the rest.
