Hyderabad–Bengaluru Bus Fire Tragedy: At Least 25 Dead in Kurnool
In a horrifying accident early Friday morning (October 24, 2025), at least 25 passengers lost their lives when a Hyderabad–Bengaluru sleeper bus caught fire after colliding with a motorbike near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The private sleeper coach, operated by Kaveri Travels, was carrying around 40 passengers when the accident occurred around 3:00 a.m. on National Highway 44.
According to officials, the bus hit a motorcycle, which got trapped under the vehicle, causing a fuel leak that quickly ignited. Within seconds, the flames engulfed the entire bus, giving passengers very little time to react. Survivors said that most people were asleep when the collision occurred, and the main door got jammed due to the impact. Several passengers managed to escape by breaking windows and using the emergency exit, while others were trapped inside as the fire spread rapidly.
Fire tenders and rescue teams rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control after nearly an hour of operation. Charred bodies were recovered from inside the bus, and DNA samples are being collected to identify the victims.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep grief over the tragedy and directed officials to provide immediate assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ex-gratia relief for the victims.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident and are examining whether safety measures like emergency exits and fire extinguishers were functional.
