In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves across Andhra Pradesh, at least 20 people lost their lives after a private bus caught fire near Kurnool in the early hours of Friday. The bus, reportedly travelling from Hyderabad to Vijayawada, burst into flames after colliding with a divider, trapping several passengers inside.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was on an official visit to Dubai, expressed deep grief over the tragedy and immediately reviewed the situation through video conference. He directed officials to ensure swift rescue operations and provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for those who sustained injuries. Naidu assured that the government will extend all necessary assistance to the victims’ families and ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.
Firefighters and local police rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire spread rapidly due to diesel leakage, giving little time for passengers to escape. Locals and first responders managed to rescue a few people before the flames engulfed the entire vehicle.
The Chief Minister also appealed to private transport operators to strictly follow safety norms and vehicle maintenance protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the Kurnool Government Hospital for identification and post-mortem.
This devastating accident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stringent safety checks and better enforcement of road transport regulations across the state.
