New Delhi: A devastating fire in a private sleeper bus in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district early Friday claimed 20 lives, including that of a motorcyclist hit moments before the blaze erupted. Police said the driver responsible for the collision fled the scene in panic instead of helping passengers trapped inside the burning vehicle.
The air-conditioned sleeper coach was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 43 passengers when it hit a motorcycle around 3 am near Madapuram village. The bike got wedged under the bus, and sparks from friction ignited the fire. The driver briefly stepped out to inspect the situation but fled as flames spread rapidly. His co-driver, however, stayed behind, helping passengers break windows to escape with the assistance of locals.
Survivors described harrowing scenes as smoke filled the bus and exits jammed. Some said they had to punch, kick, and headbutt the windows to get out. At least 15 people managed to escape through the rear and side windows before the bus was engulfed in flames.
Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil said the main driver has been arrested. Forensic teams have collected samples from the charred remains of the bus, and DNA testing is being conducted to identify victims.
A new detail has since emerged in the investigation: a consignment of 234 Realme smartphones worth Rs 46 lakh was being transported in the bus. The phones, headed to a Flipkart warehouse in Bengaluru, are believed to have intensified the blaze when their lithium batteries exploded. Forensic experts also found that the air-conditioning system’s electrical batteries burst in the heat.
Officials said the fire likely began due to a fuel leak near the front section after the collision. Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Director-General P Venkataraman noted that the intense heat melted the aluminum flooring, exacerbating the tragedy. He pointed to design flaws in the vehicle, which used lightweight aluminum panels instead of iron, reducing its resistance to fire.
The state government has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of those killed and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ex gratia relief from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
