Amaravati, March 26 (NationPress) A tragic bus fire in Andhra Pradesh's Markapuram district resulted in the loss of 14 lives and left 22 others injured, marking yet another horrific accident in the Telugu states. Over the past six months, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have experienced at least four significant bus incidents.

On October 24, 2025, a private bus caught fire after running over a motorcycle on the road near Kurnool, leading to the deaths of 19 individuals. The bus, owned by a private tour operator and carrying 46 passengers, was en route to Bengaluru from Hyderabad when the devastating accident occurred near Chinnatekur village.

Of the deceased, 19 passengers, including two children, were tragically burned beyond recognition, while 27 others, including both bus drivers, managed to escape through shattered windows.

Investigations indicated that the bus had struck a motorcycle abandoned on the road after its rider collided with a road divider. The bus dragged the motorcycle for approximately 200 meters, leading to a fire ignited by friction and fuel leakage, which rapidly consumed the entire vehicle.

The motorcycle rider, B. Shiva Shankar, 22, died from injuries sustained in the initial collision, while his friend, Erriswamy alias Nani, who was riding pillion, escaped with minor injuries but fled in fear after witnessing the bus aflame. Subsequently, police arrested bus driver Miriyala Lakshmaiah and V. Kaveri Travels owner Vemuri Vinod Kumar for causing death due to reckless driving.

In a separate incident on November 3, 2025, a collision between a bus and a tipper truck in Telangana's Rangareddy district claimed 19 lives and injured 24 others. The tipper truck, loaded with gravel, collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus traveling from Tandur to Hyderabad. Among the dead were 10 women and a 10-month-old infant. Both drivers perished in the crash, and passengers seated in the front rows were crushed under the weight of the truck.

On the same day, a private bus overturned in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, killing a man and injuring 10 others while navigating a turn at Jubilee Nagar. The following day, November 4, 2025, another accident occurred in Sri Sathya Sai district when a bus from Jabbar Travels collided with a truck, resulting in one death and eight injuries.

On January 22, 2026, another devastating incident occurred in Nandyal district, where a bus fire after a collision with a container lorry resulted in three deaths. The bus had lost control due to a tire burst, leading to a crash with an oncoming lorry.

Concerned about the rising number of road accidents, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to conduct third-party audits to investigate the causes of these accidents. This initiative aims to determine whether accidents stem from vehicle defects, driver negligence, or infrastructural issues.

In 2025 alone, 6,433 lives were lost in 15,462 road accidents across the state, placing Andhra Pradesh eighth in the country for road fatalities. Officials noted that a significant proportion of accidents involved two-wheelers and self-accidents, with speeding being a major contributing factor.

Notably, 42% of accidents occurred on national highways, while 21% were on state highways, prompting the Chief Minister to demand inquiries into the high death toll in specific districts.