Key Points:
- At least 20 passengers charred to death when Kaveri Travels bus caught fire near Chinnatekur, Kurnool district on October 24, 2025
- Bus collided with two-wheeler on NH-44 around 3:30 AM, sparking massive blaze that engulfed vehicle within minutes
- Around 40-42 passengers onboard Hyderabad-Bengaluru bus; 12 escaped through emergency exit with minor injuries
- Both bus drivers fled scene after accident; police launched search operation and detained them for questioning
- Bodies charred beyond recognition; exact toll to be confirmed after DNA tests and cooling operations
- Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, currently in Dubai, ordered immediate relief measures and medical assistance for victims
Kurnool: A horrific tragedy unfolded on National Highway 44 near Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district when a Kaveri Travels Volvo sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle around 3:30 AM on Friday, October 24, 2025. The two-wheeler became trapped under the bus chassis, causing a spark that ignited the fuel tank and triggered a massive explosion. Within minutes, flames rapidly engulfed the entire air-conditioned vehicle, trapping sleeping passengers inside.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
The death toll has reached at least 20 people, with some reports suggesting up to 25-32 casualties feared as rescue operations continue. According to passenger lists, approximately 40-42 people were aboard the bus at the time of the accident. Eyewitness Shiva, a surviving passenger, told local media that most passengers were asleep when the fire erupted, and emergency windows were not functioning properly. Twelve passengers managed to escape by breaking windows and jumping out, sustaining burn injuries in the process. The injured were rushed to Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment.
A Volvo bus from #Hyderabad to #Bengaluru caught fire on NH-44 in Kurnool at around 3:30 AM after a two-wheeler hit and got stuck under it. 40+ onboard; around 15 rescued & hospitalised. Around 25+ feared dead, verification underway.#AndhraPradesh https://t.co/j1vyH1Uchz pic.twitter.com/TR6KLKMqPG
— Ashish (@KP_Aashish) October 24, 2025
District officials confirmed that 11 bodies have been identified so far, while nine remain unidentified due to severe charring. Dr. Siri, a senior Kurnool district official, stated that 21 victims had been traced during initial recovery efforts. Forensic teams from the FSL are conducting investigations to determine the exact cause and confirm the final death toll.
Investigation and Driver Detention
Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil confirmed that both the bus driver and cleaner/helper initially attempted to extinguish the flames using water but fled the scene when the fire spread uncontrollably. Police have detained both individuals and are conducting detailed interrogations. The driver reportedly alerted the helper about the fire and attempted to break open the emergency exit to allow passengers to escape before abandoning the vehicle. Heavy rainfall was reported in the area at the time of the mishap, which may have contributed to the collision.
Government Response
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently on an official visit to Dubai, expressed profound grief over the tragedy and directed senior officials to rush to the accident site. “I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones,” Naidu stated in a post on X. He ordered all high-level machinery to assist in rescue operations and instructed officials to provide better medical treatment for the injured and necessary assistance to victims’ families.
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolences, stating, “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”. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed officials to coordinate with Andhra Pradesh authorities for immediate assistance and established a helpline for affected families.
Historical Context
This tragedy evokes painful memories of a similar devastating bus fire that occurred on October 30, 2013, in the Mahabubnagar district (now in Telangana). In that incident, a Jabbar Travels Volvo bus traveling from Bengaluru to Hyderabad rammed into a culvert, causing its diesel tank to explode around 5:10 AM on NH-44 near Palem village. Forty-five of the 52 passengers onboard were charred to death, with bodies burned beyond recognition, requiring DNA tests for identification. Among the deceased were five software engineers returning to Hyderabad for Diwali celebrations and two infants. The central locking system and automatically locked emergency windows prevented passengers from escaping, contributing to the high death toll.
The Kurnool tragedy also comes just days after another bus fire in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on October 14, 2025, where 22 passengers, including three children, died when a Jaisalmer-Jodhpur bus caught fire due to a short circuit in the air-conditioning system. These recurring incidents have raised serious questions about safety standards in long-distance bus operations across India.
