Kurnool, October 26, 2025 – In a swift crackdown following one of the state's most tragic road mishaps this year, Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested the driver of a private bus that erupted in flames near Alur town in Kurnool district, claiming the lives of eight passengers and injuring over 20 others. Authorities have launched a comprehensive probe into the incident, with preliminary findings pointing to potential negligence in maintenance and overloading as key factors.
The inferno broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday along National Highway 44, approximately 50 km from Kurnool city, when the Hyderabad-bound Volvo bus—operated by a private travel firm—collided with a stationary truck before bursting into flames. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of chaos as passengers, many asleep during the overnight journey, scrambled for exits amid thick smoke and roaring fire. "The bus was packed beyond capacity, and the driver was speeding. By the time we realized what was happening, the doors were jammed," recounted survivor Lakshmi Devi, a 45-year-old homemaker from Anantapur, who escaped with burns on her arms.
Kurnool Superintendent of Police (SP) G. Ajay Kumar confirmed the arrest of the driver, identified as 38-year-old M. Ramesh from Chittoor district, late Friday evening. "Ramesh has been remanded to 14 days' judicial custody. Initial questioning suggests he may have been fatigued after a long shift, but we're digging deeper into mechanical faults and regulatory violations," SP Kumar told reporters at the scene. The bus, which had departed Vijayawada around midnight carrying 55 passengers—well over its 44-seat limit—underwent a cursory inspection just days prior, according to transport department records.
Forensic teams from the Andhra Pradesh State Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL) arrived on site Saturday morning, sifting through charred wreckage for evidence. Blood samples from Ramesh have been sent for alcohol and drug testing, while the truck involved, which had broken down due to a tire burst, is under scrutiny for improper hazard signaling. Transport Minister Mandipally Ramana Kumar, who visited the injured at Kurnool Government Hospital, vowed stringent action. "This is unacceptable. We've ordered a statewide audit of private buses, and the operator's permit could be suspended pending the inquiry," he stated, announcing ₹5 lakh ex-gratia to families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The tragedy has reignited debates on road safety in Andhra Pradesh, where overloading and substandard vehicles contribute to nearly 15,000 annual fatalities, per National Crime Records Bureau data. Activists from the Road Safety Forum of India (RSFI) staged a protest outside the Kurnool RTO office, demanding mandatory AI-based fatigue monitoring for drivers and stricter enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. "Profit over safety has cost lives again. When will the government install more highway cameras and enforce rest hours?" questioned RSFI coordinator V. Srinivas.
Among the victims were a family of four from Guntur en route to a wedding, two elderly pilgrims, and several daily wage laborers. Identification efforts, hampered by severe burns, relied on DNA matching and mobile records, with the last rites for six bodies held Sunday amid outpourings of grief. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, currently on a US investor roadshow, expressed condolences via video message and directed Transport Commissioner M. T. Krishna Babu to submit a detailed report within 48 hours.
As the probe unfolds—led by a special team under Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) N. Sanjay Kumar—questions linger over the bus company's compliance history. The firm, registered in Hyderabad, faces multiple prior complaints for delayed services and poor upkeep. With Diwali travel peaking, the incident serves as a stark reminder for commuters to prioritize licensed operators.
Kurnool's roads, notorious for high accident rates due to heavy traffic and poor lighting, now bear the scars of yet another preventable disaster. For the bereaved families and survivors, justice cannot bring back the lost—but it could prevent the next blaze.
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