Fatal Hyderabad-Bengaluru Bus Fire: 19 Dead as History Repeats 2013 Safety Concerns

At least 19 people have been confirmed dead in a tragic bus accident that occurred late Friday night.

In Hyderabad, what began as a routine overnight journey to Bengaluru transformed into a devastating tragedy when a private luxury bus erupted in flames following a collision with a motorcycle near Chinnatekur village in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district. The incident has claimed the lives of at least 19 individuals, including the motorcyclist.

Police reports indicate the accident happened just after midnight when the motorcycle allegedly struck the fast-moving bus and became lodged underneath it with its fuel cap open. This contact triggered a fire that quickly engulfed the entire vehicle, leaving passengers trapped inside with limited escape options.

Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen stated, "Eleven passengers and a motorcyclist have died so far. Police are currently examining the bus to evaluate the situation, and we are still determining the status of nine additional passengers." District Collector A Siri confirmed that 41 individuals were traveling on the bus, including the driver.

This catastrophe has brought back memories of the 2013 Mahbubnagar bus fire that occurred on the identical Hyderabad-Bengaluru route, resulting in 45 passenger fatalities.

Several critical design flaws were identified in the earlier incident, including:

A battery compartment situated directly beneath the driver's seat, hanging dangerously low and susceptible to ground impact.

A 300-liter fuel tank positioned next to the battery, with three interconnected tanks increasing the risk of rapid fuel dispersion if ruptured.

A chassis constructed of hard plywood rather than metal, which facilitated fire spread "upwards and along the length of the bus."

Foam padding and cushioned seats made from highly combustible materials, which intensified heat and smoke.

A design feature at the rear for a second driver's rest area, which reduced exit space and created additional barriers during emergency situations.

Investigators recommended recalling the specific bus model and reviewing its design, plainly stating that the configuration was "designed for Europe, the US, and Japan, not for Indian conditions."

Despite warnings issued more than a decade ago, Friday's accident has renewed questions about whether those design concerns were ever adequately addressed. Senior police officials confirmed that the vehicle involved in the Kurnool fire belonged to a private operator and had a similar configuration to those previously flagged by investigators.

The DIG noted the complete absence of fire suppression systems in the bus that caught fire, highlighting serious deficiencies in safety compliance and emergency preparedness during travel.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed profound grief over the tragedy, describing it as a "devastating bus fire accident." In a social media statement, Naidu said, "My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and affected families."

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also shared his condolences and instructed the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Gadwal district - which borders Kurnool - to assist with relief operations.