NEW DELHI: At least 32 people were killed after a private Kaveri Travels bus caught fire following a collision with a bike at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district early Friday.
The bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with over 40 passengers on board, went up in flames moments after the impact. Within minutes, the blaze engulfed the entire vehicle, trapping several passengers inside.
Twelve people managed to escape through windows, many with burn injuries, while others were charred to death as the fire spread rapidly. Rescue and firefighting operations continued through the morning, and officials said the exact toll would be confirmed after cooling efforts were complete.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed officials to provide immediate relief and medical assistance to the injured.
The Kurnool tragedy comes just days after a similar bus fire in Rajasthan, where 22 people, including three children, were killed when a Jaisalmer–Jodhpur bus caught fire near Thaiyat village on October 14.
Investigations into the Rajasthan incident revealed that a short circuit in the air-conditioning system triggered the blaze. Forensic teams from the FSL, transport department, and Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) later confirmed the wiring fault as the cause.
The back-to-back accidents have raised serious questions about the safety of long-distance private buses and the enforcement of maintenance norms on intercity routes.
The bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with over 40 passengers on board, went up in flames moments after the impact. Within minutes, the blaze engulfed the entire vehicle, trapping several passengers inside.
Twelve people managed to escape through windows, many with burn injuries, while others were charred to death as the fire spread rapidly. Rescue and firefighting operations continued through the morning, and officials said the exact toll would be confirmed after cooling efforts were complete.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed officials to provide immediate relief and medical assistance to the injured.
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. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and…
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 24, 2025
The Kurnool tragedy comes just days after a similar bus fire in Rajasthan, where 22 people, including three children, were killed when a Jaisalmer–Jodhpur bus caught fire near Thaiyat village on October 14.
Investigations into the Rajasthan incident revealed that a short circuit in the air-conditioning system triggered the blaze. Forensic teams from the FSL, transport department, and Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) later confirmed the wiring fault as the cause.
The back-to-back accidents have raised serious questions about the safety of long-distance private buses and the enforcement of maintenance norms on intercity routes.
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