Kurnool Bus Fire Tragedy Linked to Motorcycle Accident

A tragic bus fire on National Highway 44 near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, claimed the lives of 19 individuals in the early hours of March 15, 2024. Police investigations have revealed that the incident was triggered not by a direct collision with a moving motorcycle, but rather by a motorcycle that had fallen on the highway following an accident.

According to Kurnool district superintendent of police Vikrant Patil, the accident involved two local residents, Panchala Shiva Shankar (20) and his friend Erriswamy. The pair had set out from Lakshmipuram village toward Tuggali shortly after midnight. At around 2:24 AM, they stopped at a petrol station to refuel their motorcycle, purchasing ₹300 worth of petrol. Shortly after resuming their journey, Shiva Shankar lost control of the bike, which skidded and collided with the road divider, resulting in his immediate death.

Erriswamy, who sustained minor injuries, attempted to move Shiva Shankar’s body and drag the motorcycle to safety. At that moment, a bus operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels was approaching at high speed. The bus collided with the fallen motorcycle, dragging it several metres and igniting a catastrophic fire beneath the vehicle.

In the chaos that ensued, Erriswamy fled the scene, returning to his village. Police tracked his movements through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and mobile phone data. He was subsequently arrested and questioned, leading to further insights into the tragic event.

Investigation Uncovers Disturbing Details

The police investigation confirmed that the motorcycle collision was the primary cause of the bus fire. Forensic experts have also looked into the fire’s origins, suggesting it may have been exacerbated by the explosion of 234 new smartphones stored in the bus’s luggage compartment. These Realme smartphones, valued at ₹46 lakh, were being transported from Hyderabad to a Flipkart warehouse in Bengaluru by a trader named Manganath.

Director General of Andhra Pradesh Fire Services P. Venkataramana indicated that the lithium batteries in the smartphones could have exploded due to extreme heat, contributing to the intensity of the blaze. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple explosions during the fire, which also involved the bus’s air conditioning system batteries. Venkataramana noted that the bus’s aluminium flooring melted completely, exposing human remains beneath.

The spilled petrol from the motorcycle, combined with the heat from the collision, likely ignited the flames. The fire’s rapid spread was attributed to the lightweight materials used in the bus’s construction, which, while enhancing speed, significantly increased the risk of fire disasters.

Difficult Recovery Efforts and Safety Checks Initiated

The recovery of bodies from the bus has proven to be a grim task. Forensic lab director G. Palaraju reported that the remains were charred beyond recognition. DNA samples have been collected from the victims’ relatives to facilitate identification, with results expected within a few days.

In the wake of this tragedy, both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana transport departments launched a special operation to inspect private travel operators for safety violations. In Andhra Pradesh, officials identified 289 infractions against private buses, leading to the seizure of 18 vehicles and fines amounting to ₹7.08 lakh. The highest number of violations occurred in the Eluru district, while checks in Telangana also resulted in the seizure of a bus for multiple regulatory breaches.

As families mourn their losses, authorities are taking steps to ensure that such catastrophic incidents are prevented in the future.