19 dead as Hyderabad-Bengaluru bus catches fire in AP after accident
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Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh): Latest inputs say that at least 19 people have died after a Volvo bus caught fire when it hit a two-wheeler in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool early on Friday.
The bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 40 passengers on board reached near Kurnool on National Highway 44 (NH-44), at around 3:30 am, when it met with an accident.
In the impact of the hit, the two-wheeler got stuck under the belly of the bus, triggering a spark, the police suspect. It is reported that the driver fled the scene.
Several people were asleep at the time of the accident thus waking up to chaos facing difficulty in exiting the fire. The FSL team is looking for anyone who might have been left behind.
The initial report of the pre-dawn accident suggests that soon after the hit bus got gulfed in fire turning into ashes.
Vikrant Patil, Superintendent of Police, Kurnool told NDTV that ‘At around 3 am, a volvo bus of Kaveri travels was going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. It hit a two-wheeler, and it got stuck under the bus. That probably caused a spark and led to fire.’
The officer further added that ‘The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is here and ascertaining the exact cause of the fire. Since it was an AC bus, passengers had to break open the windows. Whoever could break open the glass are safe.’
Patil said that ‘15 people have been rescued and admitted to the hospital. The fire is under control’.
It is reported that eleven passengers are taken to the government hospital, while three others are receiving treatment at private hospitals just as efforts are on to find missing passengers.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan expressed deep grief over the tragic bus fire in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
Both leaders termed the incident “deeply unfortunate” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
President Murmu, in a post on social media platform X, wrote: ‘The loss of lives in a tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is deeply unfortunate. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.’
Vice President Radhakrishnan said on X: ‘Deeply saddened by the tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.’
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock at the incident, stating, ‘I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and affected families.’
With inputs from IANS