Death toll rises to 20 in Andhra’s Kurnool bus inferno; DNA collection underway

The death toll in the devastating Kurnool bus fire climbed to 20 on October 24 after a V-Kaveri Travels Volvo bus, en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, erupted into flames in the early hours on the city outskirts. Authorities confirmed that DNA collection from charred remains has begun as the rescue operation continues.

According to Kurnool District officials, the bus, carrying 41 passengers, caught fire around 3 am following a collision with a motorbike that ignited its fuel tank.

Twenty-one passengers managed to escape, aided by passersby who helped break windows and pull people to safety. “The driver initially attempted to extinguish the fire with water bottles, thinking it was minor. Sadly, despite efforts, many could not be saved,” said Kurnool SP Vikrant Patel.

The Volvo bus had departed Hyderabad’s Patancheru at 8:30 pm, picking up passengers across the city, most of whom were returning to Bengaluru after Diwali celebrations.

Government response and relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is on an official visit to Dubai, expressed profound grief. The PM’s office announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Naidu directed senior officials to oversee rescue and relief efforts, ensure medical care, and extend support to survivors.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also convened a high-level meeting with top officials, instructing them to provide full assistance to victims’ families and survivors. Former Andhra Pradesh CM and YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy described the incident as “extremely distressing” and called for generous financial aid and the best possible medical care for those injured.

Second such incident on the route

This incident marks the second major bus fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route. In 2013, a fire on a private bus near Palem, Mahabubnagar district, killed 45 passengers. Investigations at the time pointed to a cabin fire near the driver’s seat.

As authorities continue the painstaking task of recovering bodies and assisting survivors, the Kurnool tragedy underscores the urgent need for road safety measures and stringent oversight of long-distance private bus operations.