Kurnool Bus Accident: Illegally Converted Sleeper Coach Raises Safety Concerns
The bus involved in the Kurnool accident was illegally modified into a sleeper coach, exposing passengers to high safety risks.
The devastating bus accident near Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district which claimed multiple lives early Friday when a sleeper coach from Vemuri Kaveri Travels burst into flames on National Highway 44, revealed gross violations in vehicle registration and modifications. Owned by Vemuri Vinod Kumar and bearing registration DD01 N9490, the bus—originally a seater coach purchased in Daman and Diu on May 2, 2018—was illicitly converted into a sleeper without authorisation or adherence to safety protocols, as uncovered by transport officials.
The vehicle, en route across states, operated under a tourist permit issued by Odisha's Rayagada RTO on April 29, 2025, transferred from an unverified address under G Bijaya Laxmi, with a fitness certificate from Silvassa valid until March 31, 2027. Despite possessing insurance and road tax documents, authorities overlooked the unauthorised overhaul, which compromised structural integrity and emergency features.
Rayagada RTA officials admitted ignorance of the conversion, claiming approvals were based on submitted records that falsely described it as a mere seating adjustment. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) Vice-Chairman Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao condemned such practices, emphasising that bus body alterations must follow engineering standards for weight distribution, balance, exits, and fire safety.
Private operators frequently cram extra berths to boost revenue, bypassing certified builders and reducing passenger space, rendering vehicles prone to catastrophic failures like the inferno that engulfed this bus. The incident has spotlighted collusion between operators and lax RTA oversight, with unqualified drivers often employed to cut costs, trading lives for profit.
The tragedy renews scrutiny on NH 44's design flaws, including poor lighting, inadequate medians, and high-speed zones that exacerbate accidents involving overloaded or unstable vehicles. Similar crashes in the region have prompted calls for stricter interstate permit verifications and mandatory inspections for modifications. Officials speaking anonymously highlighted how unauthorised designs destabilise chassis, heightening rollover and fire risks, as seen here where the sleeper conversion likely contributed to the blaze's rapid spread.
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As investigations proceed, demands mount for nationwide audits of private fleets, enhanced RTA accountability, and penalties for fraudulent alterations to prevent future losses on India's highways, where over 150,000 annual fatalities underscore the urgent need for regulatory reform.
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