Horrific early-morning accident on Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway; 32 feared burnt to death

In a horrific road accident, at least 32 people have been feared dead after a private passenger bus caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district early October 24, The Times of India reported.

The accident occurred near Chinna Tekuru village on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway, turning what was meant to be a routine overnight journey into a scene of flames and chaos.

According to initial reports, the bus -- operated by Kaveri Travels -- collided with a motorcycle, sparking an intense blaze that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.

Witnesses said the fire spread so rapidly that most passengers were trapped inside before they could react. Twelve people managed to escape, some with burn injuries, while others are believed to have been consumed by the flames.

Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene, battling to extinguish the blaze and recover the remains. Officials have yet to release a confirmed death toll, but the scale of the destruction suggests a high number of casualties.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and directed district authorities to ensure swift relief measures and medical assistance for survivors. “It is a deeply tragic incident,” he said, adding that an inquiry will be conducted to determine the cause and lapses, if any.

The Kurnool disaster comes barely a week after another deadly bus fire in Rajasthan that claimed 22 lives, including those of three children. In that case, a bus travelling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village on October 14. Investigations suggested that a suspected short circuit in the vehicle’s air-conditioning system, which caused a gas leak, had triggered the inferno.

The two incidents, occurring within days of each other, have renewed concerns over passenger safety and the maintenance standards of private transport operators. Many long-distance private buses in India operate on thin margins, often compromising on regular inspections and safety checks.

As rescue operations continue in Kurnool, officials say they are working to identify the victims and contact families of the deceased. The charred shell of the bus has been cordoned off by police.