A private bus going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler on Friday, killing 20 people. Most of the people died due to burns in the fire. This information was given by a senior police officer.
The officer said that the bike rider was also among the dead.
President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed grief over the incident.
Some of the bodies were so charred that they could not be identified, forcing officials to call in a forensic team to collect DNA samples of the dead.
An official said many passengers did not survive the accident as it happened at night when they were sleeping.
Prime Minister Modi also announced ex-gratia amount.
According to preliminary information, the motorcycle collided with the bus near Chinnatekur in Kurnool and came under it and its fuel tank lid burst open.
Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Koya Praveen told PTI, “So far, 19 bodies have been taken out from the burnt bus. The body of the bike rider is in the mortuary.
He said the full extent of the casualties and survivors would be known only after a thorough investigation and identification of all those involved in the accident.
Police said that due to short circuit, the door of the bus got jammed and the bus completely burnt down within a few minutes. Police said most of the survivors were aged between 25 and 35 years.
District Collector A. Siri said that there were 41 people in the bus, including the driver. Of the 41 people on board the bus, 21 have been traced. He said that the condition of the people who survived the accident is stable and they are out of danger.
He said that many passengers could not get out of the bus after the accident because it happened at night when they were sleeping. He said that the door of the bus did not open immediately because some wires were cut, which further increased the seriousness of the accident. Siri said that most of the passengers were from Hyderabad.
Officials had initially said that the bus was going to Hyderabad in the neighboring state of Telangana.
Praveen said that the police is taking security precautions and is emptying the diesel tank of the bus. Praveen said that meanwhile, a team of medical experts has reached the spot to collect DNA samples of the burnt bodies.
The DIG said the bus in which the fire broke out had no fire control measures in place, revealing lapses in safety compliance and emergency preparedness during the journey.
President Murmu posted on ‘X’, “The loss of lives in the tragic incident of bus fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is extremely unfortunate. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Prime Minister Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in this incident.
Modi posted on social media platform ‘X’, “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to the accident in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.”
Modi said, “My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult time.” I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He said, “The family of each deceased will be given an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep grief over the incident. Naidu said he had spoken to the district collector and superintendent of police (SP) and the injured were being treated.
“Shocked to learn about the horrific bus fire accident that took place near Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district. My deepest condolences are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will provide all possible assistance to the injured and affected families,” he said in a post on social media.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed deep grief over the accident and expressed condolences to the bereaved family members.
Reddy directed the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Gadwal district of Telangana, neighboring Kurnool, to visit the accident site as part of relief operations.
The Telangana government has launched a helpline to assist the family members of the passengers of the private bus going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.
The government said in a release that its officials – M Sriramchandra and E Chittibabu – can be contacted for help.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also expressed grief over this tragic incident.
