Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: 19 bodies recovered, Telangana government sets up helpline

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: The Telangana government on Friday set up a helpline to assist the families of passengers of the Hyderabad to Bengaluru private bus, which was involved in an accident in Kurnool district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The government, in a release, said that its officers M Sriramachandra (M 9912919545) and E Chittibabu (M 9440854433) can be contacted for help. (PTI)

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Out of the 20 people who tragically died the bus fire incident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool, 19 bodies have been recovered so far. DNA testing is going on to identify the victims.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: At least 20 people died after a private bus going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district after meeting an accident with a motorcycle early Friday morning. Scary visuals show the bus engulfed in flames even as it rained.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Vice President CP Radhakrishan said that he is “deeply saddened” by the bus fire tragedy in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he wrote on X.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Goud said on Friday that “unfit buses” which flout the rules set by the government would be seized.

“We have directed the transport authorities to seize any unfit buses to eliminate potential threats to life. We direct the transport people that buses will be seized if they don’t comply with the rules. There is no playing with the lives of citizens,” Telangana Transport Minister Goud told news agency ANI.

After the bus went up in flames, locals reportedly heard people crying for help as they tried to scape the blaze. hey tried to rescue the injured before fire tenders arrived. Firefighters from Kurnool deployed four fire engines to bring the blaze under control, but by then, the bus was reduced to ashes. Rescue teams shifted the injured passengers to the Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment. Preliminary reports suggest that the majority of the passengers were residents of Hyderabad.

Jayant Kushwaha, who survived the fire told ANI that he remained in disbelief after seeing the flames. He woke up around 2:30 AM only to find himself and others trapped in a fire on board since the doors remained locked. He managed to escape after breaking the emergency windows. “Around 2:30-2:40 AM, the bus stopped, and I woke up and I saw that the bus caught fire. I couldn’t believe that it was fire. I realised moments after that it was fire. Only two three people were awake. We yelled fire and woke everybody up. The doors were locked. We couldn’t locate the drivers. We broke the emergency window as the main door was locked. We jumped out of the window. Many people jumped out of the bus by breaking the windows,” Jayant told ANI.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Nazeer has directed the district authorities to provide necessary medical care to the injured passengers. The Governor offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.

As per reports, the bus rammed into a motorcycle which got dragged under it, hitting the fuel tank. This caused an immediate explosion and the flames rapidly spread throughout the vehicle, police said. The police further said that the bus door got jammed due to a short circuit and the vehicle was completely gutted within minutes.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “The tragic and painful incident of a bus catching fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of many innocent people, is deeply saddening. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of all the passengers who lost their lives in this tragedy and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Jayant Kushwaha, a passenger on the ill-fated bus that caught fire near Kurnool district, said that he was in disbelief when he saw that the bus had caught fire. He said that doors of the bus were locked and he, along with two or three other passengers, attempted to break emergency windows to escape the bus.

“Around 2:30-2:40 AM, the bus stopped, and I woke up and I saw that the bus caught fire. I couldn’t believe that it was fire. I realised moments after that it was fire. Only two three people were awake. We yelled fire and woke everybody up. The doors were locked. We couldn’t locate the drivers. We broke the emergency window as the main door was locked. We jumped out of the window. Many people jumped out of the bus by breaking the windows,” Jayant told ANI.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the incident is “profoundly distressing”.

“The tragic incident of a bus catching fire on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the loss of many precious lives, is profoundly distressing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of all the passengers who lost their lives in this tragedy and wish a swift recovery to those injured. It is imperative to ensure accountability for these unfortunate recurring incidents,” he wrote on X.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said that he is “disturbed” by the bus fire incident.

“Disturbed and pained by the tragic bus fire accident on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru route near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district. Several precious lives were lost and many sustained injuries in this heartbreaking incident. My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing strength and a speedy recovery to those injured,” he wrote on X.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: BJP spokesperson Vinusha Reddy said that the administration in the area reacted swiftly to the incident. She said that DNA tests are being conducted to identify the bodies of those who were charred to death inside the bus.

“…The bus was going from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, and many people have been burnt alive in this bus…the administration here has responded very quickly…many people have been burnt inside the bus and forensic experts and doctors are doing DNA testing, and this entire process is being very fast and the bodies will be identified soon…” she told ANI.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Kurnool District Collector A Siri said that out of the 20 people who have died, bodies of 11 people have been identified.

“There were a total of 41 members in the bus, including two drivers. A bike got stuck under the bus. After the accident, petrol leaked from the bike and caught fire. Of the 41 members, we have traced 21 passengers; they are safe. 11 dead bodies have been removed from the bus. 21 members have minor injuries and are undergoing treatment. We have to confirm about the remaining 9 bodies,” ANI quoted Siri as saying.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: A passenger who was travelling in the bus that caught fire near Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district described the horror. He said that he spotted the fire from the window and alerted the driver.

“Last night, we boarded the bus at Kukatpally to travel to Bengaluru. I was seated behind the driver’s seat. After a long journey, between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., I noticed a fire on the window side and immediately alerted the driver. The bus was stopped right away. Meanwhile, we tried to break the windows to escape. Around 20 people managed to get out of the bus, but the others were unable to escape…” he said, reported news agency ANI.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently in Dubai on an official tour, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.

“I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and affected families,” he wrote on X.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said he was deeply pained by the unfortunate bus fire.

“Deeply pained by the horrific bus fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route near Kurnool. The thought of over 20 innocent passengers losing their lives in such a horrific way is heartbreaking. My prayers are with the victims’ families and those battling injuries. No words can ease their pain, but every possible support must reach them without delay,” Kumar wrote on X.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: Eyewitnesses reported hearing screams for help before the bus was completely engulfed in flames. Some locals also rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the injured before fire tenders arrived.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy LIVE Updates: According to police, the bus rammed into a motorcycle on the highway near Kurnool district, following which, the two-wheeler got trapped under the bus and hit the fuel tank, leading to an immediate explosion and rapid spread of flames throughout the vehicle.