Fatal Kurnool Bus Fire Investigation: Motorcyclist's Erratic Behavior Captured on CCTV Before Deadly Collision

Hyderabad:

The investigation into the fatal bus fire in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool that took 20 lives early Friday morning has revealed new developments through a viral video showing suspicious behavior of the deceased motorcyclist before the crash. CCTV footage indicates that B Shiva Shankar, 22, was riding erratically, possibly intoxicated, shortly before colliding with the private luxury bus on NH-44.

The V Kaveri Travels private bus erupted into flames following the collision, dragging Shiva Shankar's motorcycle approximately 200 meters. Initial reports confirmed that friction and fuel leakage from the motorcycle triggered the massive fire.

Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao has attributed responsibility to the bus driver and travel agency for the incident. Both drivers, Laxmaiah and Siva Narayana, have been arrested on charges of negligent driving.

Recently emerged footage showed the motorcyclist arriving at a petrol pump with a passenger at 2:23 am. No attendant was present. The passenger dismounted and walked away from view, presumably searching for someone to refuel their vehicle. The biker also dismounted and wandered around the petrol station.

Visibly frustrated, he shouted at one point before turning his motorcycle on its side stand. He then departed from the petrol pump, struggling to maintain balance on his two-wheeler.

Sources suggest his behavior appeared erratic, leading police to suspect he may have been operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

Between 3-3:30 am, the crash occurred near Ullindakonda. The bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 46 passengers caught fire immediately after, trapping 19 sleeping passengers. Twenty-seven survivors escaped by breaking windows and jumping from the burning vehicle.

The motorcycle passenger is currently in police custody. Authorities are interrogating him to establish the sequence of events leading to the tragedy and determine if the biker was intoxicated. The biker's viscera samples have been sent for forensic analysis to confirm alcohol presence, which could significantly alter the investigation's focus regarding driver negligence.

Investigators are examining two main scenarios concerning the collision, complicated by heavy rainfall and darkness at the time.

The Multiple Scenarios Being Explored

One possibility is that the motorcyclist had an accident earlier, and the bus driver failed to notice it in the dark, rainy conditions, unknowingly dragging the motorcycle for 200 meters, causing sparks, fuel ignition, and subsequent explosion. Alternatively, the crash might have resulted from the biker's reckless riding.

Beyond immediate causes, various agencies, including the transport department, are also investigating the private bus operator's safety credentials and operations.

They have identified significant regulatory violations, including that the bus was originally registered in Daman and Diu before reportedly being re-registered in Odisha last year. Authorities are investigating whether this was a strategy to avoid higher taxes and stricter regulations in states where the bus primarily operated.

Officials also suspect the sleeper coach was illegally converted from a standard seater bus. Such modifications often fail to meet mandatory safety standards regarding emergency exits, gangway width, and structural integrity, severely limiting passenger escape options during a fire.

Survivors have informed NDTV that essential emergency equipment, such as the mandatory mini hammer for breaking windows during emergencies, was unavailable or inaccessible, trapping passengers in the burning vehicle.

A high-level committee comprising police, transport, and revenue officials has been formed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all these aspects, ensuring accountability for the tragic loss of lives.