At least 20 people were burned to death and a dozen others sustained minor injuries after a Hyderabad-bound private bus caught fire near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal, Andhra Pradesh, in the early hours of Friday.
According to Hindustan Times, the Kaveri Travels bus, which had departed from Hyderabad for Bengaluru with about 44 passengers on board, collided with a motorcycle on National Highway 44 on the outskirts of Kurnool around 3:30 am.
Police said the two-wheeler became trapped under the bus, puncturing the fuel tank and triggering a massive explosion that rapidly engulfed the vehicle. Most of the passengers were asleep when the fire broke out.
A few managed to smash windows and escape, but many were trapped inside before help arrived. Local residents rushed to assist until firefighting teams reached the scene.
Four fire engines were deployed to extinguish the flames, but the bus was completely destroyed. The injured were taken to the Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment.
Police sources confirmed that most of the victims were from Hyderabad, and the bus drivers fled immediately after the accident. A criminal case has been filed, and a search operation is underway to locate them.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently in Dubai, expressed deep grief over the tragedy and instructed the chief secretary and senior officials to coordinate relief and medical efforts, provide compensation to the families of the deceased, and conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy visited the accident site and assessed the situation.
YSR Congress Party chief and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also conveyed his condolences, urging the government to ensure financial assistance and prompt medical care for the survivors.
