Amaravati: In a horrific accident, a private bus ferrying passengers from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire after colliding with a bike in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours of Friday, October 24.
There were 43 passengers inside the bus when the accident took place (including the two drivers).
Private bus carrying 40 passengers going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire in Kurnool mandal of AP in the wee hours of Friday. pic.twitter.com/ObPYyd1fQp
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) October 24, 2025
There were speculations in the media that around 20 passengers were feared dead, and several were injured. News reports stated that the charred bodies of 19 passengers were retrieved, even as the rescue operations continued.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a tour of Dubai, expressed his deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. In a post on X shortly after the news of the fire accident broke out, he stated: “Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and affected families.”
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
How the fire accident happened
The incident happened when a Kaveri Travels bus bearing number plate DD01N9490 collided with a bike head-on, when it reached Chinna Tekur- Ullindakonda Cross Roads in Kurnool mandal at around 3.30 am on Friday.
The biker has been identified as Shiva Shankar (22), a resident of Kurnool town. His body was lying over 100 metre away from the bus, and the Pulsar bike which he was riding, was found stuck underneath the front portion of the bus, with its fuel tank seen without a cap.
The fire which started at the front portion of the bus, soon spread to the entire bus, when the passengers were in deep sleep. The driver and helper exited the bus along with some passengers, while others were reportedly caught in the fire.
According to Kurnool superintendent of police Vikrant Patil, as the fire erupted, the bus driver alerted the helper/spare driver, and believing that it was a small fire, they initially tried to extinguish the flames using a water bubble.
“As the fire spread, they raised an alarm and broke open the emergency exit, using which some of the passengers escaped. The injured have been shifted to Kurnool Government Hospital where they are being treated. We can’t say as to how many passengers have died,” he reportedly told the media.
Though the spare driver has been taken into custody, the main driver was still absconding according to Koya Praveen, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Kurnool Range.
There were 21 passengers who exited the bus by breaking open the emergency exit and the windows. Some of them were injured while jumping out of the bus to save their lives. All of them were known to be safe after getting treated at Kurnool Government hospital.
The forensic experts were called to the spot to conduct the DNA analysis, identify the victims, so that their bodies could be handed over to their families.
Victims and survivors
Golla Ramesh (35), his wife Anusha (30), his two children Manvitha (10) and Manish (12) were among those who died in the incident. Native of Gollavaripalle village of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, Ramesh’s family had settled in Bengaluru. They had gone to Hyderabad and were returning back home, when the incident happened.
Three persons boarded the bus at JNTU in Hyderabad on Thursday night. Among them, Ramreddy survived. Dhatri and Amit Kumar who boarded the bus along with Ramreddy, were not traceable.
Harsha, another passenger who boarded the bus at Nizampet was also not traceable. Subramaniam, who boarded the bus at Bahadurpally survived. Satyanarayana, who boarded the bus near Gandimaisamma temple couldn’t be traced. Venu (33), who got in the bus at Chintal couldn’t be traced. Shiva (24), resident of Gowlidoddi was found safe.
Expressing sorrow over the incident, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy directed his officials to coordinate with the officials of Andhra Pradesh and oversee the rescue efforts.
కర్నూలు జిల్లా చిన్నటేకూరు వద్ద జరిగిన ఘోర బస్సు ప్రమాదంపై ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ ఎ. రేవంత్ రెడ్డి గారు తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతిని వ్యక్తం చేశారు. ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ అధికారులతో మాట్లాడి అవసరమైన సహాయ చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలని రాష్ట్ర అధికారులను ఆదేశించారు. ఈ ఘటనలో మరణించిన కుటుంబాలకు తీవ్ర సంతాపం తెలిపారు.…
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) October 24, 2025
Telangana government sets up helpline
Telangana government has established helpline numbers with the following officers to facilitate the family members of the passengers involved in the bus accident:
- M Sri Rama Chandra, assistant secretary- 9912919545
- E Chitti Babu, section officer- 9440854433
Expressing his condolences to the victims’ families, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh per head to those who died in the bus fire accident, and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured persons.
