At least 25 people were killed and several others injured when a private bus caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday, October 24, 2025. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Chinnatekuru village on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway. The motorcycle became lodged under the bus, igniting sparks that set the fuel tank ablaze. Many of the 44 passengers onboard were asleep at the time, and while some managed to escape by breaking emergency windows, others tragically perished in the flames. The motorcycle rider also lost his life in the accident.
The bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. Survivors described moments of sheer terror as the vehicle was engulfed in fire, with locked doors forcing them to break windows to survive. Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene, but the intensity of the blaze overwhelmed initial rescue efforts. Forensic investigations are ongoing, and authorities are using DNA testing to identify victims due to the severity of the burns. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding bus safety standards and emergency preparedness on Indian roads. Leaders across India have expressed their condolences for the tragedy. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan extended sympathies to the victims’ families, while Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu assured government support for affected families. The Telangana government also set up a helpline to assist those impacted. This incident comes less than two weeks after a similar bus fire in Rajasthan, highlighting the urgent need for stricter safety regulations and preventive measures to avoid such catastrophic accidents in the future.
