Kurnool: At least 25 people were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus burst into flames following a collision with a motorcycle in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state early Friday.
The fire spread through the bus within minutes, trapping sleeping passengers as the vehicle travelled along a highway near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district, about 210 kilometres south of Hyderabad.
Senior police officer Vikrant Patil said the motorcycle rammed into the speeding bus from behind and became lodged underneath, sparking a fire that quickly reached the fuel tank. “As the smoke started spreading, the driver stopped the bus and tried to use a fire extinguisher, but the flames were too strong to control,” Patil said.
చిన్నటేకూరు నాయకల్లు ఫ్లై ఓవర్ దగ్గర ప్రైవేట్ ట్రావెల్స్ బస్సు ప్రమాద ఘటన స్థలాన్ని పరిశీలించిన…
కర్నూల్ రేంజ్ డీఐజీ శ్రీ కోయ ప్రవీణ్ గారు, జిల్లా కలెక్టర్ డా.ఏ.సిరి గారు,జిల్లా ఎస్పీ విక్రాంత్ పాటిల్ గారు#APPOLICE100#APPolice#appolice#AndhraPradeshPolice#PoliceKurnool pic.twitter.com/vDCpLYuXjh— Kurnool Police (@PoliceKurnool) October 24, 2025
The bus, carrying 44 passengers on its route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, was engulfed before many could react. Some passengers managed to break windows and jump to safety, suffering minor injuries. Others were unable to escape as the fire consumed the vehicle.
Eighteen people survived and are being treated for burns and other injuries at nearby hospitals. The motorcycle rider also died in the crash, police said. Images from the scene showed the bus reduced to a charred shell. Forensic teams are examining the remains to determine the exact cause of the fire.
I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and…
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 24, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the incident deeply distressing, and extended sympathy to the bereaved families. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also mourned the victims, assuring full support for the injured and directing officials to assist in relief efforts.
The tragedy marks the second fatal bus fire in India this month. Earlier, a suspected short circuit caused a similar blaze in Rajasthan, killing at least 20 passengers.
