How Did a Bus Blaze in Andhra Lead to 11 Fatalities?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 11 fatalities reported in the Kurnool bus fire.
- 19 passengers managed to escape by breaking windows.
- The collision occurred around 3:30 a.m. on NH-44.
- Investigation underway to determine the cause of the fire.
- Emergency services responded quickly to transport the injured.
Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 24 (NationPress) Tragically, 11 individuals lost their lives when a private bus was engulfed in flames after colliding with a two-wheeler in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, during the early hours of Friday. Remarkably, 19 passengers managed to escape the inferno by breaking a window.
The bus, owned by a private travel company, was traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 40 passengers onboard.
Nineteen individuals broke out through the windows of the Volvo bus operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Ullindakonda, as reported by the police.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Koya Praveen stated that a total of 21 passengers were rescued, and 11 of the deceased have been identified.
The number of casualties may increase, as several missing passengers are feared dead.
Eleven injured passengers were transferred to a government hospital, while three others received treatment at private facilities.
The bus commenced its journey from Hyderabad around 10:30 p.m., and as it neared Kurnool on National Highway 44 (NH-44), it collided with a two-wheeler at approximately 3:30 a.m. The motorbike became lodged under the bus, which is suspected to have sparked the catastrophic fire.
Survivors recounted that the two-wheeler was dragged by the bus for about 300 meters before halting. Most passengers were asleep when the incident occurred; one survivor recalled waking to cries of 'fire' and, along with others, breaking the emergency window to escape.
Akash, a survivor, described how the bus was consumed by flames within minutes, and due to the fixed windows of the AC bus, escaping was quite challenging. The majority of the passengers hailed from Hyderabad.
By the time emergency services arrived, the bus was entirely engulfed. Police promptly acted to transport the injured to medical facilities.
Among the deceased were four family members. They have been identified as Golla Ramesh (35), Anusha (30), Manivata (10), and Manisha (12).