In the early hours of Friday, October 24, 2025, a devastating tragedy unfolded on the highway near Chinna Tekur village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district. A private bus operated by Kaveri Travels, carrying 41 passengers from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, became engulfed in flames after colliding with a motorcycle. The accident, which occurred around 3 a.m., claimed 20 lives—including two children and the motorcyclist, Bucchalu Shiva Shankar—and left the nation reeling in shock and grief.
According to the police, the bus was traveling southbound when it struck a motorcycle moving in the same direction. The two-wheeler became trapped beneath the heavy vehicle, and as it was dragged along, it hit the fuel tank. This led to an immediate explosion, and flames rapidly swept through the bus. Many passengers were asleep at the time, leaving them with little chance to react. As one survivor, Ashwin, recounted to ANI, “Around 2:30 am, the bus stopped suddenly. I woke up and saw flames on the window side. I immediately shouted to the driver, but the fire spread so fast. We tried to break the windows to get out. About 20 people managed to escape, but the others couldn’t.”
The horror of the situation was compounded by the speed at which the fire spread. Investigators later determined that sparks from the dragged motorcycle, combined with the bus’s batteries, flammable furnishings, and a cargo of cell phones, aggravated the blaze. The bus door reportedly jammed due to a short circuit, further trapping those inside. Jayant Kushwaha, another survivor, described the chaos: “Around 2:30-2:40 AM, the bus stopped, and I woke up and I saw that the bus caught fire. I couldn't believe that it was fire. Only two three people were awake. We yelled fire and woke everybody up. The doors were locked. We couldn't locate the drivers. We broke the emergency window as the main door was locked. We jumped out of the window. Many people jumped out of the bus by breaking the windows.”
Of the 41 people on board, 21 managed to escape, including the two drivers of the bus—who, according to Kurnool District Collector A Siri, fled the scene after the incident. The remaining 20, tragically, perished, with most victims charred beyond recognition. DNA testing is underway to identify the deceased, and families of 18 victims have already been contacted. “There were a total of 41 members in the bus, including two drivers. A bike got stuck under the bus. After the accident, petrol leaked from the bike and caught fire. Of the 41 members, we have traced 21 passengers; they are safe. 11 dead bodies have been removed from the bus. 21 members have minor injuries and are undergoing treatment. We have to confirm about the remaining 9 bodies,” Collector Siri told ANI.
The response from authorities was swift. Firefighters from Kurnool rushed to the scene with four fire engines, but by the time the blaze was brought under control, the bus had been reduced to ashes. Rescue teams shifted the injured to the Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment. Most of the passengers were reportedly residents of Hyderabad. Locals who heard the screams of those trapped inside tried to help, but the intensity of the fire left little room for rescue efforts.
News of the tragedy reverberated across India, prompting immediate reactions from political leaders and government agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying, “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.” President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishan, and other dignitaries also conveyed their sorrow and solidarity with the victims’ families.
Both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments announced additional ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured. Andhra Pradesh transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy stated, “19 people lost their lives in this incident. 27 people were rescued. We have announced ₹5 lakhs each to the kin of the deceased and ₹2 lakhs each to the injured. Our 16 teams are mobilised over this incident.” The Telangana government, acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, set up a helpline for families of the victims and pledged similar compensation. Telangana transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud declared, “We have directed the transport authorities to seize any unfit buses to eliminate potential threats to life. We direct the transport people that buses will be seized if they don't comply with the rules. There is no playing with the lives of citizens.”
The incident has reignited debate over the safety of private buses in India, particularly sleeper buses that ply long-distance routes at night. In the aftermath, Andhra Pradesh transport authorities began a crackdown on buses flouting safety norms and regulations. The Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association called for a thorough investigation and urged all stakeholders to ensure the highest safety standards for intercity commuters. Telangana Jagruthi leader Kavitha Kalvakuntla echoed these concerns, urging the Union transport minister to review the sleeper bus policy, citing a string of similar accidents nationwide.
Political leaders from across the spectrum expressed both grief and calls for action. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar remarked, “All the states should work out safety measures following this. We pray for the families of the deceased. 15 days ago, a Blue Line bus met with the same fate, but luckily, all escaped.” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge described the tragedy as “profoundly distressing” and called for accountability. Rahul Gandhi, in a heartfelt post, wrote, “The tragic and painful incident of a bus catching fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of many innocent people, is deeply saddening. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of all the passengers who lost their lives in this tragedy and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The police have registered a case against both bus drivers for alleged negligence and over-speeding, following a complaint by survivor N Ramesh. The investigation, involving forensic analysis, post-mortem reports, and scene reconstruction, continues as authorities work to establish full accountability. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Governor Nazeer has directed district authorities to provide all necessary medical care to the injured, and efforts to identify the remaining victims persist.
As India mourns the loss of 20 lives in the Kurnool bus fire, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stricter safety measures and robust enforcement in the country’s private bus sector. The calls for reform—echoed by survivors, officials, and political leaders alike—signal a collective determination to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.