Andhra Pradesh: Bus Fire in Kurnool Claims Lives of 20 Passengers
Kurnool, 24th October 2025: A devastating accident in the early hours of Friday left at least 20 passengers dead after a private bus caught fire near Chinnatekur on NH-44. Some media reports have put the death toll at 25, and authorities have cautioned that the number may rise.
The bus, traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, collided with a motorcycle around 3:30 am. The bike, driven by Shivshankar, went under the bus and struck its fuel tank, igniting a massive fire. Shivshankar also died in the accident.
There were approximately 40 passengers on board, many of whom were asleep at the time. Only 19 passengers managed to escape by breaking the emergency exit, but most of them sustained severe burns and are receiving treatment at Kurnool Government Hospital.
Authorities said several bodies were completely charred, making identification difficult. “Some victims were burned to skeletal remains,” a police official noted. The driver and cleaner of the bus remain unaccounted for.
The accident occurred during heavy rainfall in the region, which hindered rescue efforts. Videos and photos taken by motorists traveling behind the bus show the vehicle engulfed in flames while the fire brigade struggled to control the blaze.
Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen said that most passengers were aged between 25 and 35, and many were from Hyderabad. He confirmed that 21 passengers, including two children, narrowly escaped the inferno. A short circuit reportedly occurred after the fire, jamming the bus doors and preventing passengers from exiting.
Kurnool District Collector Dr. A. Siri, who visited the accident site, released helpline numbers for information regarding victims and the injured. Families can contact the Collectorate Control Room at 08518-277305, Government Hospital Kurnool at 9121101059, Spot Control Room at 9121101061, Kurnool Police Control Room at 9121101075, and GGH Help Desk at 9494609814 and 9052951010.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating, “The Kurnool accident is tragic. My condolences are with the families of the deceased.” The Prime Minister’s Office announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The tragedy bears a grim resemblance to another bus fire that occurred just ten days ago in Rajasthan, where 22 passengers lost their lives on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway under similar circumstances.
