A devastating fire on a private bus claimed the lives of at least 20 passengers early Friday morning, October 24, 2025, along National Highway 44 near Chinnatekur village. The vehicle, operated by Kaveri Travels and en route from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, collided with a motorcycle around 3:30 a.m., sparking a rapid inferno that gutted the entire bus within minutes. Of the 44 people on board, most were asleep at the time of the crash, leaving survivors to recount harrowing tales of breaking windows to escape the flames. The incident has shocked communities in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Telangana, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns on one of India's busiest highways.

Preliminary investigations point to a catastrophic chain of events triggered by the collision. Police reports indicate the bus rammed into the two-wheeler, dragging it underneath and rupturing the fuel tank, which was reportedly left open—a critical oversight that allowed fuel to spill and ignite instantly. The ensuing explosion spread fire throughout the vehicle, exacerbated by a short circuit that jammed the doors shut, trapping many inside. National Highway 44, a vital corridor connecting major southern cities, has witnessed numerous accidents due to high traffic volumes and varying vehicle standards, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols for private operators like Kaveri Travels.

Among the survivors, primarily young adults aged 25 to 35, along with two children and the two drivers who fled the scene, efforts to escape were frantic and partial. Local residents, alerted by screams amid the blaze, rushed to assist before four fire engines from Kurnool arrived to douse the flames, though the bus was already reduced to a charred shell. The injured were swiftly transported to Kurnool Government General Hospital, where medical teams are providing critical care. With most victims hailing from Hyderabad, anxious families have converged on hospitals and police stations, awaiting forensic identification of the remains—potentially involving DNA testing to confirm identities and bring closure.

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The tragedy drew immediate national attention, with President Droupadi Murmu offering condolences and prayers for the bereaved and injured. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, briefed while on an official visit to Dubai, directed senior officials to the site for oversight, emphasising comprehensive relief measures, top-tier medical aid, and a thorough probe to prevent future occurrences. Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt for the absconding drivers, while the incident renews calls for enhanced vehicle inspections, including fuel tank safeguards, on interstate routes. As the death toll stands at 20 with investigations ongoing, this preventable disaster serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of lapses in road transport safety.

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