Published : 24 Oct 2025, 04:47 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 02:38 PM
At least 25 passengers have burnt to death after a private bus crashed into a motorcycle in India’s Andhra Pradesh before catching on fire, according to local media reports.
The private sleeper coach carrying 40 passengers was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru when it collided with the motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction around 3:30am local time on Friday, reports Indian daily The Hindu.
The incident occurred in the Kurnool district.
Reports say that immediately after the crash, flames erupted on the front of the bus and spread quickly, causing the fuel tank to explode. The bus was then engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds.
Most of the passengers were asleep when the accident occurred and woke to screams and chaos. Many of them were trapped amid the confusion and had no access to the exit amid the smoke and flames. However, a few passengers managed to escape through the emergency exit with minor injuries.
Several other people have suffered serious injuries.
Broadcaster NDTV reports that police believe the motorcycle got stuck under the belly of the bus due to the crash and caused the spark that set off the fire.
"The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is here and ascertaining the exact cause of the fire. Since it was an AC bus, passengers had to break open the windows. Whoever could break open the glass managed to escape," Vikrant Patil, superintendent of police in Kurnool, told NDTV.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ram Prasad Reddy visited the scene. He expressed shock and profound grief over the tragedy and conveyed his deepest sympathies to the families of those who died. Reddy also instructed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent his condolences in a tweet from his official account. “Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," he wrote.
He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 200,000 from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of each of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
