A devastating accident claimed 11 lives when a Volvo bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru erupted in flames after colliding with a two-wheeler near Ullindakonda in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district. The incident occurred around 3:30 am on National Highway 44, reducing the bus to ashes within minutes.

The bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was carrying 40 passengers when it struck a two-wheeler, which became lodged beneath the vehicle, likely sparking the fire, according to preliminary police investigations. "The two-wheeler got stuck under the bus, causing a spark," said Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil. The Forensic Science Laboratory team is investigating the exact cause. The air-conditioned bus trapped many sleeping passengers, who struggled to escape as the flames spread rapidly. Some survivors broke windows to flee, but others were not as fortunate.

Fifteen passengers were rescued and admitted to hospitals, with 11 receiving treatment at a government facility and three in private care. Efforts are ongoing to locate missing passengers and identify victims, many of whom were severely burnt. "The bodies are completely charred, making identification challenging," said Nandyal TDP MP Byreddy Shabari, who noted that an eyewitness saw the bus explode within minutes, limiting rescue efforts. Approximately 19 people were saved.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and pledged government support for the affected families. "My heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones," he wrote on X, assuring assistance for the injured. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed condolences, praying for the speedy recovery of survivors. Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy called the incident "deeply distressing" and urged financial aid and medical support for victims’ families. Telugu Desam Party General Secretary Lokesh Nara and Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s KT Rama Rao also expressed sympathies.

The Andhra Pradesh Transport Department is reviewing the bus’s maintenance records to ensure compliance with safety standards. This tragedy follows a similar incident on October 15 in Rajasthan, where 20 passengers perished in a bus fire on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway after a jammed door trapped them inside.

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