Liquor binge led to Vemuri Kaveri bus tragedy in Kurnool
KURNOOL: In a major revelation, police have confirmed that the deadly Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus accident near Kurnool, which killed 19 passengers, was triggered by a biker who rode under the influence of alcohol. The investigation traced the source of liquor to an unauthorised belt shop at Lakshmipuram, beside National Highway-44.
Drunk biker lost control minutes before collision
Police said Shivashankar from Kurnool and his friend Erriswamy alias Nani, a resident of Rampalli in Tuggali mandal, drank heavily at the Lakshmipuram belt shop till midnight. Around 2am, Shivashankar, in an inebriated state, left on his Pulsar bike to drop his friend home.
He stopped at Shivaprasad Fuel Station, opposite the Kia showroom, at 2.22am for ₹300 worth of petrol. CCTV footage showed him shouting at staff and driving rashly. Just 13 minutes later, he lost control of the bike and hit the median. Shivashankar died on the spot, while Erriswamy fell onto a grassy patch and survived.
When the bus passed by moments later, it rammed into the fallen bike, dragging it under the chassis. The petrol tank exploded, setting the vehicle ablaze and killing 19 passengers on board.
Erriswamy’s confession cracked the case
Erriswamy, who initially fled the scene fearing arrest, was later traced through call records. During questioning, he admitted the duo had bought liquor from the belt shop and drank until 2am. He also revealed that he saw passengers breaking windows and jumping out as the bus caught fire.
Police subsequently questioned the bus driver Lakshmaiah, who had earlier misled investigators by claiming that the bus hit a moving bike. After Erriswamy’s confession, Lakshmaiah admitted he had failed to notice the fallen bike on the road.
Officials inspect site, confirm alcohol link
A team led by Pattikonda DSP Venkataramaiah, Dhone DSP Srinivasulu and Kurnool Rural CI Chandrababu Naidu visited the accident site. Their report confirmed that the bike was driven under the influence of liquor and crashed before the bus arrived. Motor Vehicle Inspectors Nagaraju Naik and Sudhakar Reddy examined the bus’s fitness, ruling out mechanical failure.
Liquor outlets mushrooming along NH-44
Investigators and locals blamed rampant liquor sales near highways for the tragedy. NH-44, which connects Hyderabad and Bengaluru, is lined with numerous liquor outlets from Pullur tollgate to Pothudoddi, a stretch of 88 km. Villages along the highway reportedly have multiple belt shops operating day and night.
Despite Supreme Court orders prohibiting liquor shops within 500 metres of highways (2016), relaxed norms in 2017 allowed sales within municipal and mandal limits. Residents allege that the rule has been widely misused, leading to proliferation of shops.
Social media outrage over liquor policy
Netizens called the accident a grim reminder of the “alcohol epidemic” and criticised the state government for allowing unchecked liquor sales for revenue. Many recalled Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sajjanar’s warning that “drunk drivers are suicide bombers—more dangerous than terrorists.”
Critics on social media accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s government of ignoring the proliferation of belt shops across rural Andhra Pradesh. “Not a single village is without a liquor outlet,” wrote one user.
Public demands crackdown on belt shops
Citizens and activists have urged the government to shut illegal liquor outlets and review its excise policy. They said the lives of 20 people—including the biker—were lost solely due to easy access to liquor along the highway.
