Horror on Highway: Motorcycle Crash Sparks Deadly Blaze
A passenger bus carrying 44 people burst into flames after a motorcycle smashed into its rear early Friday in southern India, killing at least 25 people and injuring several others.
The “luxury” coach was racing along a highway near Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh when disaster struck. Senior police official Vikrant Patil revealed that the bike hit the speeding bus, got wedged underneath, and was dragged for a distance. Sparks from the collision ignited the bus’s fuel tank, quickly engulfing the vehicle in a raging inferno.
Passengers Trapped as Flames Swallow Bus
Many passengers were asleep at the time and found themselves trapped inside the burning bus. Some managed to smash the windows and jump to safety with minor injuries, but dozens were burned alive before rescuers arrived.
The driver tried desperately to control the blaze using a fire extinguisher but failed against the fierce flames. “The fire was so intense he couldn’t control it,” Patil said.
Rescue Efforts and Official Response
- 15 survivors have been rescued and are now in hospital
- The motorbike rider also died at the scene
- Forensic experts have launched an investigation
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh leader N. Chandrababu Naidu extended condolences to victims’ families
The bus was travelling between Hyderabad in Telangana and Bengaluru in Karnataka state when the crash occurred near Chinnatekuru village, approximately 130 miles south of Hyderabad.
Tragic Pattern of Bus Fires in India
This horrific blaze is the second deadly bus fire in India within weeks. Earlier this month, a suspected short circuit caused a fire that engulfed a passenger bus in Rajasthan, killing at least 20 people.
The appalling tragedy has once again raised urgent concerns over road safety and vehicle maintenance standards across India’s highways.
