A tragic fire engulfed a privately-operated AC sleeper bus on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway near Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, in the early hours of Friday. The bus collided with a motorcycle, which became trapped under the vehicle. Fuel from the two-wheeler leaked and friction caused by dragging the bike under the bus is believed to have sparked the blaze.
Investigators say the resulting petrol leak and sparks rapidly ignited the bus’s cabin, giving passengers little time to escape. Many of the 40 + passengers onboard were asleep when the fire broke out. Preliminary findings show the bus doors failed to open and emergency exits were inadequate, which worsened the loss of life. At least 20 people, including the motorcycle rider, were killed, and several others suffered serious injuries. Officials have launched a full probe into driver behaviour, vehicle safety compliance and emergency equipment aboard such long-distance coaches.
The state government has pledged support to the bereaved families and promised stricter safety checks for inter-state buses. This tragedy highlights the urgent need to enforce fire-safety and oversight measures on highway passenger transport.
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