Kurnool Volvo bus fire: How routine journey from Hyderabad to Bengaluru turned into fiery nightmare

Kaveri Travels Volvo bus

A routine overnight journey from Hyderabad to Bengaluru turned into a scene of horrific tragedy near Kurnool in the early hours of Friday, as a fire sparked by a collision rapidly consumed a private bus, killing at least 20 passengers.

The Kaveri Travels Volvo bus, reportedly carrying 41 people, was travelling on National Highway 41 near Chinna Tekuru village when the disaster unfolded around 3.30 am. While a dozen passengers managed to escape with injuries, many were not so fortunate, as the coach was transformed into an inferno within minutes.

As per reports, a preliminary investigation by police and Kurnool district officials has pieced together the critical moments that led to the fire. The chain of events began when the bus collided with a motorcycle. The impact was severe enough to drag the two-wheeler under the bus, cracking open its fuel tank.

The resulting leakage of petrol, combined with the intense friction from the collision, is believed to have provided the initial ignition source for the blaze. The police further reported that the bus's main door jammed, likely due to an electrical short circuit caused by the impact, sealing the primary escape route for those inside.

According to initial reports, the combustible materials within the bus's interior then said to have fuelled the flames, causing them to spread with terrifying speed. However, a key detail emerging from the investigation, as noted by DIG Koya Praveen, is that the bus's own fuel tank remained intact. This points squarely to the motorcycle's fuel as the primary catalyst, challenging earlier speculation.

The tragedy struck while most passengers were asleep. Those who were awake or jolted awake by the crash faced a desperate struggle. With the main door inoperative, survivors were forced to smash windows and claw their way through the emergency exit to escape the intensifying flames. As per an HT report, most of the survivors are aged between 25 and 35, and two children and both bus drivers also managed to escape the blaze.

The drivers, however, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident and are now the subject of a police search. Locals who rushed to the spot upon hearing screams attempted to aid the rescue before official fire tenders arrived.
Firefighters from Kurnool eventually deployed four fire engines to battle the blaze, but by the time it was brought under control, the bus had been reduced to a charred shell. The grim task of identifying the victims now falls to forensic teams, with DNA testing anticipated where necessary to put names to the remains.

The tragic incident prompted condolences from the highest levels of government. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her deep sorrow, calling the loss of lives "deeply unfortunate."

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was briefed on the incident while abroad, directed the chief secretary and senior officials to oversee rescue and relief operations. He emphasised providing the best medical care for the injured and a thorough investigation into the cause. The Chief Minister also announced financial assistance for the bereaved families.

The Kurnool tragedy casts a grim shadow and raises urgent questions about vehicle safety protocols, coming just days after a separate bus fire in Rajasthan claimed 22 lives.