Kurnool bus blaze kills 19 after collision with biker; victim identified as 20-year-old
HYDERABAD: A 20-year-old motorcyclist, identified as Shivashankar, a resident of Prajanagar in Kurnool, died after his Pulsar bike was hit by a private travel bus, which later caught fire, killing at least 19 passengers late Thursday night.
Bus dragged motorcycle for 300 metres before bursting into flames
Police said the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, caught fire soon after colliding with Shivashankar’s motorcycle near Kurnool. The impact was so severe that the bus dragged the motorcycle for nearly 300 metres before bursting into flames.
Several passengers boarded the bus at Hyderabad, Suraram, and near Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) on the city outskirts. Survivors said the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time for escape.
Family grief amid wedding talks
Family members said Shivashankar had recently been attending match-seeing ceremonies for marriage proposals. “We don’t know why he went out that night,” they said. His death has plunged the family into mourning.
A survivor, Akash, who boarded the bus to return to Bengaluru after visiting Hyderabad for Deepavali, told reporters: “Suddenly, there was a loud noise. When I woke up, I saw flames all around. I broke the glass window and jumped out. Two others also followed me.”
Firefighters and police reached the spot soon after, rescuing a few passengers through the emergency exit. Authorities said the cause of the blaze is under investigation.
Control rooms and helplines activated in Gadwal and Kurnool
To assist victims’ families, the following control rooms and helplines have been set up:
Gadwal Collectorate Control Room: 95022 71122
Help Desk: 91009 01599, 91009 01598
Kurnool Government General Hospital Control Room: 91009 01604
Gadwal Police Office Control Room: 87126 61828
Officials have urged the public and families of victims to contact these numbers for updates and assistance.
