At least 20 people were burnt alive after a private Kaveri Travels bus caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district, early October 24 on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway.
According to Kurnool district collector Dr Siri, 21 passengers have been traced so far. Of the remaining 20 victims, 11 bodies have been identified, while nine are yet to be recognised. She noted that the bus door had jammed after the impact, preventing passengers from escaping once the fire broke out.
DIG Koya Praveen stated that the collision with the bike triggered the fire, while combustible materials inside the bus intensified the blaze. He added that although the fuel tank remained intact, the vehicle lacked essential safety features to either prevent or control such incidents.
Within minutes, flames engulfed the entire bus, trapping several passengers inside. Twelve people managed to escape through the windows, many sustaining serious burn injuries, while others were charred to death as the fire spread rapidly. Rescue and firefighting operations continued through the morning, with officials saying the exact death toll would be confirmed after cooling operations were completed.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed officials to provide immediate relief and medical assistance to the injured.
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
This tragedy in Kurnool comes just days after a similar incident in Rajasthan, where 22 people, including three children, were killed when a Jaisalmer–Jodhpur bus caught fire near Thaiyat village on October 14.
Investigations into the Rajasthan fire found that a short circuit in the air-conditioning system triggered the blaze. Forensic experts from the FSL, Transport Department, and Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) later confirmed that faulty wiring caused the incident.
