Andhra Pradesh bus fire incident: Passengers describe horrific scenes of how blaze started and how they escaped

Survivors of the Kaveri Travels bus fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district on Friday recounted the horrifying moment when the vehicle exploded into flames after a collision with a motorcycle in the early hours of the morning. The bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 41 passengers, was completely gutted, leaving at least 20 people dead and many others injured.

Passengers said they awoke from slumber to find themselves trapped amidst flames, as the bus doors failed to open. This prompted them to break open the emergency windows to escape.

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Jayant Kushwaha, one of the survivors, said he woke up to find the bus engulfed in flames. “We yelled and woke everyone up, but the doors were locked and we couldn’t find the driver. A few of us broke the emergency windows and jumped out,” he told ANI, adding that many others escaped in the same way.

Another survivor, Ashwin, who was seated behind the driver, said he first noticed the fire spreading from the side of the bus and immediately alerted the driver. “The bus stopped right away, and we tried breaking the windows to get out. Around 20 people managed to escape, but several others couldn’t,” he said.

Ashok, a Hyderabad resident working in Bengaluru, recalled waking up to a loud bang and finding the vehicle already in flames. “I heard a sudden thud followed by an explosion. I broke the window and jumped out along with two others,” he said.
Officials confirmed that the bus caught fire after dragging a motorcycle, which became stuck underneath it. The petrol from the bike leaked and ignited, setting the vehicle ablaze within minutes.

She also confirmed that both drivers escaped unharmed, and a control room has been set up to assist the families of the victims.

A fire department official stated that the bus lacked basic safety equipment, including hammers to break the windows. “The bus collided with a bike, causing petrol leakage and a fire. The driver did not stop after hitting the bike. There were no safety hammers inside the bus, and though the diesel tank didn’t catch fire, the vehicle was destroyed,” the official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it “deeply unfortunate.” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also conveyed condolences and assured full support to victims’ families. “I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones,” he said.

The injured have been admitted to the Kurnool Government Hospital, while authorities continue to probe the cause of the accident and assess safety loopholes leading to the horrific fire.