19 dead, 27 survive in Kurnool bus fire; AP government launches probe
Investigation in progress by members of the APFSL (Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory) and police regarding the ill-fated bus involved in one of the deadliest road accidents in Andhra Pradesh in recent years. The private sleeper bus, bound for Bengaluru from Hyderabad, turned into a fireball at Chinna Tekuru village in Kalluru mandal of Kurnool district on Friday morning (October 24, 2025), killing at least 19 people and leaving several others injured, four of them critically.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL/THE HINDU
As many as nineteen passengers were charred to death in a bus accident near Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) early this morning. A total of 27 passengers, including two drivers, survived the mishap; 12 sustained injuries.
The accident occurred when a Bengaluru-bound private bus (V Kaveri) from Hyderabad hit a two-wheeler at China Tekur near Kurnool at around 3-3.30 am. The two-wheeler was struck by the bus and hit the fuel tank, triggering a fire. There were 46 passengers, including two drivers, in the vehicle.
It is, however, unclear whether the bus hit the two-wheeler or whether the two-wheeler was already lying on the road after an earlier accident.
According to eyewitnesses, the passengers had little time to react as the fire engulfed the vehicle in just under two minutes.
AP, Telangana governments respond
The Andhra Pradesh Government set up 16 forensic teams, including 10 teams to identify the victims, to probe the accident.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently on a tour of the UAE, held a teleconference with top officials and directed them to conduct an audit of the fitness of the buses owned by private travel companies. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy too held a review meeting to assess the damage and discuss rescue operations.
Both governments set up control rooms to answer queries from the kin of the victims.
The injured have been shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said that a high-powered panel will probe the incident and submit a report to the government.
Published on October 24, 2025
