Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, October 24 2025 — A quiet early-morning journey turned into disaster when a private passenger bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire after it collided with a motorbike near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. With around 40 people on board, many were asleep when flames erupted, leaving several dead and many more injured.
The Moment of Impact & Fire
At approximately 3:30 a.m., the bus collided with a two-wheeler which reportedly got lodged under the bus’s undercarriage. A spark from the impact or friction is believed to have ignited the blaze, which then spread rapidly. Passengers describe chaos and terror: some woke up to hear screaming and the hiss of fire spreading before they could even find an exit.
By the time bystanders and rescue teams arrived, the bus was largely gutted. Doors had reportedly jammed, trapping people inside. Many victims were found severely burnt and unable to escape in time. At least 11 have been confirmed dead so far, with several more critically injured and dozens still unaccounted for.
Rescue Efforts & Aftermath
Firefighters, police and local communities rushed to the scene. Survivors were pulled out through smashed windows, some with grievous burns, and taken to hospitals in Kurnool and neighbouring districts. The injured are receiving intensive care, while families of the deceased await identification of charred bodies.
State officials declared emergency aid: the chief minister expressed deep condolences and pledged full medical and financial support for victims’ families. A forensic team has also been deployed to investigate the cause and possible lapses in safety measures.
Questions of Safety Raised
This tragedy has prompted serious questions about road-safety regulations for passenger coaches, especially at night. Critics point to issues like lack of proper emergency exits, insufficient fire-suppression systems, and the dangers of overcrowding on high-speed highways. The jammed exit in this case raises troubling concerns over how quickly passengers can get out when disaster hits.
A Community in Grief
For the families and survivors, this night will forever mark loss and disruption. One young survivor said: “I woke up to the bus shaking, heard a loud crash—then the heat, the screams, the smoke.” The journey they planned quietly has turned into a lifetime of grief.
