Three killed as trucks collide and catch fire on NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh
Synopsis
Two trucks collided on NH-16 near Boyapalem in Andhra Pradesh and burst into flames, killing all three occupants — two drivers and a cleaner — who were trapped inside. Paper cargo in one truck accelerated the blaze; rescue teams took five hours to recover the charred remains.
Key Takeaways
Three people — Mekala Ravikumar , Ramesh , and Dharmapathi — were charred to death on 1 July in the accident.
The collision occurred on National Highway 16 near Boyapalem , on the Palnadu-Guntur district border in Andhra Pradesh .
A tile-laden truck swerved to avoid a stationary vehicle, hit the divider, and struck an oncoming paper-laden truck head-on.
Paper cargo in one truck caused the fire to spread rapidly, gutting both vehicles completely.
Rescue workers took nearly five hours to extract the charred remains; police have registered a case and begun an investigation.
Three truck occupants were charred to death on Wednesday, 1 July after two trucks collided and burst into flames on National Highway 16 near Boyapalem, on the Palnadu-Guntur district border in Andhra Pradesh. Police confirmed the deaths after rescue workers spent nearly five hours extracting the charred remains from the gutted vehicles.
How the Accident Unfolded
A truck carrying tiles from Kurnool to Machilipatnam swerved to avoid a stationary, broken-down vehicle on the highway. The manoeuvre sent it into the road divider before it slammed into an oncoming truck loaded with paper. The impact was severe enough to badly mangle the front sections of both vehicles, trapping the drivers and a cleaner inside.
A spark from the collision ignited a fire that rapidly engulfed both trucks. According to police, the presence of paper cargo in one of the vehicles accelerated the spread of the blaze, leaving both trucks completely gutted.
The Deceased
Police identified the three victims as Mekala Ravikumar, driver of the tile-laden truck; Ramesh, cleaner of the same truck; and Dharmapathi, driver of the paper-carrying truck, who was from Karnataka. Their charred remains were shifted to a nearby government hospital.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Police and fire-fighting personnel rushed to the scene and doused the blaze. Earthmovers and cranes were subsequently deployed to clear the wreckage from the highway. The accident triggered a major traffic jam on the Kolkata-Chennai corridor, one of the country's busiest freight arteries, before traffic was eventually restored.
Investigation Under Way
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the collision. The incident once again draws attention to the hazard posed by vehicles breaking down on high-speed national highways without adequate warning signs or reflective markers — a recurring factor in multi-vehicle pile-ups on NH-16.
Point of View
A critical freight corridor linking Kolkata and Chennai, sees some of the country's heaviest truck traffic, yet enforcement of emergency stopping protocols and reflective-marker rules remains inconsistent. Three lives lost in a single preventable incident should prompt a hard look at why highway breakdown safety norms are routinely flouted — and why enforcement has not kept pace with the volume of traffic on these corridors.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the truck fire accident in Andhra Pradesh occur?
The accident occurred on National Highway 16 near Boyapalem, on the border between Palnadu and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh, on 1 July. NH-16 is the Kolkata-Chennai national highway and one of India's busiest freight corridors.
Who were the three people killed in the Andhra Pradesh truck collision?
The three deceased were identified by police as Mekala Ravikumar, driver of the tile-laden truck; Ramesh, cleaner of the same truck; and Dharmapathi, driver of the paper-carrying truck, who was from Karnataka.
What caused the two trucks to collide and catch fire?
A tile-laden truck swerved to avoid a stationary, broken-down vehicle on the highway, hit the road divider, and collided head-on with an oncoming paper-laden truck. A spark from the impact triggered a fire that spread rapidly due to the paper cargo, engulfing both vehicles.
How long did the rescue operation take?
Rescue workers took approximately five hours to douse the fire and extract the charred remains of the three victims. Police and fire-fighting personnel responded to the scene, and earthmovers and cranes were used to clear the wreckage.
What action has been taken after the Palnadu highway accident?
Police have registered a case and launched a formal investigation into the collision. Traffic, which had been severely disrupted by the accident, was restored after the vehicles were removed using earthmovers and cranes.
