A horrific road accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, has sent shockwaves across the nation after a Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in the early hours of Friday, resulting in the tragic deaths of 20 people. The incident, which occurred around 3 am on National Highway 44 near the outskirts of Kurnool city, began when the bus, carrying 44 passengers, collided with a motorcycle. According to preliminary reports and witness accounts, the impact caused the motorcycle to become trapped beneath the bus, leading to a fuel tank explosion and a rapid spread of flames that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.
The V Kaveri Travels bus was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. In the ensuing chaos, 20 individuals, including the motorcycle rider, lost their lives. While 12 passengers managed to escape with minor injuries, many were trapped as the fire raged. Many passengers were asleep at the time of the collision, making escape even more difficult. Survivors recounted the terrifying experience, describing how they broke windows to escape the inferno.
Adding a disturbing layer to the tragedy, the bus had two drivers. While one, Lakshmaiah, fled the scene immediately after the accident, the other, Siva Narayana, who was not driving at the time, has come under scrutiny for providing conflicting statements to the police. Initially, Siva Narayana claimed heavy rain and reduced visibility caused the accident. However, he later changed his account, suggesting the motorcycle and rider were already on the road due to a prior accident, and the driver unknowingly hit them, triggering the fire. This shift in his statement has raised serious questions.
Further investigations revealed that the bus had accumulated several traffic violations and challans from Telangana police for offenses including dangerous driving and unauthorized parking. Despite this, the vehicle possessed an All India permit and a valid fitness certificate.
Beyond the statistics and investigative details, the tragedy has brought forth heart-wrenching personal stories. Two friends, traveling with their families, experienced drastically different outcomes. One family escaped the flames, while the other tragically perished. Survivor N Ramesh recounted how he had to break a window to escape, as the rear emergency door was jammed, trapping many inside.
Key Points from the Kurnool Bus Tragedy:
- Fatal Collision: A speeding private bus collided with a motorcycle on NH 44 near Kurnool in the early hours of Friday.
- Deadly Blaze: The collision ignited a fierce fire, engulfing the bus and claiming 20 lives, including the biker.
- Conflicting Driver Statements: The bus driver is under scrutiny for changing his account of the accident, raising questions about the circumstances.
- Previous Violations: It has emerged that the bus had multiple traffic challans for violations, including dangerous driving.
- Survivor Accounts: Survivors described a terrifying ordeal of breaking windows to escape the rapidly spreading fire.
- Heartbreaking Losses: Families on board experienced devastating losses, with some members perishing while others survived.