“No Mercy”: Hyderabad Police Warns Drunk Drivers After 19 Die in Andhra Bus Blaze

The deadly bus fire on National Highway 44 near Kurnool that claimed 20 lives early Friday, October 24, 2025, after a drunk biker lost control and triggered a chain-reaction blaze, prompting Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar to label impaired drivers “terrorists” and pledge “no mercy” in enforcement. The incident occurred around 2:39 a.m. when B Shiva Shankar, heavily intoxicated after drinking at a roadside dhabha, crashed his motorcycle into a divider. The oncoming Hyderabad-to-Bengaluru private bus ran over the fallen bike, dragging it several metres until the ruptured fuel tank sparked a fire that engulfed the vehicle. Nineteen passengers were burnt alive; Shiva Shankar died instantly, while pillion rider Erri Swamy survived and admitted both men were drunk.

CCTV footage shows Shiva Shankar refuelling at 2:24 a.m.—just 15 minutes before the collision—corroborating Swamy’s police statement. The bus had no time to avoid the obstacle in the dark. Flames trapped most occupants inside; emergency teams recovered only charred remains. Andhra Pradesh Police have registered a case of death by negligence against the deceased biker. The tragedy, one of the state’s worst this year, has intensified scrutiny on roadside liquor sales and night-time highway safety. 

In a forceful statement posted on X Commissioner Sajjanar condemned drunk driving as “a preventable massacre” and declared, “Drunk drivers are terrorists. Period.” He vowed zero tolerance in Hyderabad, with every offender facing “the full force of law—no leniency, no exceptions, no mercy.” Night patrols and breathalyser checks have been intensified. Telangana records over 1,200 alcohol-related road deaths in the past three years, underscoring the urgency of the crackdown.

Andhra Pradesh authorities are now pushing for improved highway lighting, stricter dhabha alcohol regulations, and mandatory ignition interlocks for repeat offenders. Victim families, many grieving multiple losses, demand swift compensation and systemic reform. The Kurnool disaster serves as a stark warning: one impaired decision can destroy dozens of lives. As investigations continue, both states are reinforcing that road safety demands unrelenting vigilance—starting with the driver behind the wheel.