At least 25 people have been killed in a horrific road accident in India’s Andhra Pradesh, after a Hyderabad-to-Bengaluru Volvo sleeper coach caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle.
The tragic incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Friday (October 24) near Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district. The bus was carrying about 40 passengers at the time.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the front portion of the bus immediately after the collision and spread rapidly throughout the vehicle. The blaze intensified after the fuel tank exploded.
Most of the passengers were asleep when the accident occurred. Though some woke up as the bus filled with smoke and flames, many were unable to escape in time.
Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil said 15 passengers were rescued and taken to the hospital with severe burn injuries. Many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, making identification difficult.
NDTV reported that the motorcycle became trapped under the bus, likely causing the fire. The bus driver reportedly fled the scene following the incident.
Just last week, on October 15, a similar tragedy occurred in Rajasthan when a moving bus caught fire, killing 20 people. Police suspect a short circuit triggered that fire on the Jaisalmer–Jodhpur route.