20 Dead, 21 Injured as Private Bus Catches Fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool District
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh – October 24, 2025: A devastating accident claimed 20 lives early Friday morning when a private bus operated by Kaveri Travels caught fire near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal.
The bus, en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, collided with a motorcycle around 3:30 a.m. on National Highway 44. The impact trapped the motorcycle under the bus, rupturing its fuel tank and triggering a massive explosion.
The blaze engulfed the vehicle within minutes, trapping many passengers who were asleep. Despite the chaos, 21 passengers managed to escape by breaking windows, aided by local residents who rushed to help before fire tenders arrived. Four fire engines were deployed, but the bus was completely gutted.
Kurnool District Collector Dr. A Siri confirmed that out of 41 passengers, 20 perished and 21 were rescued. Most of the passengers were reportedly residents of Hyderabad.
The injured were admitted to Kurnool Government General Hospital. Among the survivors are Naveen Kumar, Akhil, Jasmitha, Akira, Ramesh, Jayasurya, Harika, Subrahmanyam, Ramireddy, Venugopal Reddy, Satyanarayana, and Srilakshmi.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the injured. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently on an official visit to Dubai, directed senior officials to oversee rescue efforts and ensure top medical care.
State Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy visited the site and assured full support to the victims’ families. Former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also urged the government to provide substantial financial aid and quality healthcare.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Preliminary findings point to negligent driving and fuel leakage. Forensic teams are working to identify the deceased, with DNA testing planned where necessary.
The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over Kurnool and Hyderabad, as families await confirmation about their loved ones.
