The Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association (GBITCIA) on Friday urged government agencies and stakeholders to conduct a thorough investigation into the bus accident in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, that left 20 people dead.

The association called for urgent action by transport authorities and service providers to ensure the highest safety standards for all intercity commuters, particularly those connected to the technology sector.

The driver of the bus which caught fire in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool in the early hours of Friday had alighted to check on the situation but panicked and fled instead of helping passengers who were trapped inside, a senior police official has told NDTV. Of the 43 people who were on the bus, 19 died in the fire, and the rider of a motorcycle which was hit by the bus before the blaze was also killed.

The AC sleeper bus, which was headed from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, hit the motorcycle in Kurnool around 3 am on Friday. The bike got lodged under the bus and was dragged by it. The friction from this caused sparks, which are believed to have caused the fire. Read more

Telangana Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Friday said six persons from Telangana were among the 20 people who died in the bus accident in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The minister, who visited the accident site, said 10 people who escaped the accident are stable and there is no threat to life.

Rao, who blamed the driver of the ill-fated bus for the accident, said the government would take special measures to prevent such mishaps.

Official records accessed by NDTV show that the bus bore the registration number DD01N9490. It was originally registered in Daman and Diu in August 2018 and owned by Vemuri Kaveri Travels, a private operator based in Odisha's Rayagada district. The proprietor, Vemuri Vinod Kumar, registered the vehicle under the address of Sai Laxmi Nagar in Rayagada.

The vehicle's registration was transferred to the Rayagada Regional Transport Office (RTO) on April 29, 2025 - less than six months before the accident. Its base tourist permit had been issued by the Odisha Transport Department on 1 May 2025, valid until April 2030. Additionally, an All India Tourist Permit (AITP) from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was granted in August 2025, valid through July 2026.

Surya, a resident of Hyderabad, was travelling to Bengaluru for a job interview. He too jumped out of the bus and suffered minor leg journey.

"Around 2:45 am, there was some smoke and fire. I am told something happened between bus and a bike. I am not very clear what happened. Bike went under bus resulting in sparks. We quickly got done to safety. Nothing happened to me except in my leg," said Surya.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleged "mischief or negligence" in the Kurnool bus fire incident. Shivakumar called for an investigation.

"My prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones," wrote Congress's Dr Shama Mohamed.

"A similar incident occurred in Rajasthan just days ago, the Government of India must look into these incidents and investigate why they are happening. The safety of our people must be ensured," she added.

Devastated to hear the tragic news of a fire in an AC bus in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, in which 20 people are feared dead.
My prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones.
A similar incident occurred in Rajasthan just days ago, the Government of India must look… pic.twitter.com/oEc1kmLyJG

— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) October 24, 2025

Calling the bus fire incident "profoundly distressing", Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, "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."

Kharge called for "accountability for these unfortunate recurring incidents."

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…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 24, 2025

Number of deaths rise to 19 in Hyderabad-Bengaluru bus crash. Kurnool collector, Dr A Siri, says bus door jammed as wires snapped.

A passenger who was travelling in the bus that caught fire on the NH-44 said the main door was locked. "...Around 2.30-2.40 am, the bus stopped and I woke up. I saw that the bus caught fire...Everyone in the bus was sleeping. We woke everyone...We broke the emergency window at the back as the main door was locked...We jumped out of the window...Many people jumped out of the bus by breaking the windows..." the passenger told the news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh | A passenger who was travelling in the bus that caught fire, says, "...Around 2.30-2.40 am, the bus stopped and I woke up and I saw that the bus caught fire...Everyone in the bus was sleeping. We woke everyone...We broke the emergency window as… pic.twitter.com/W1rCL6ZoKp

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2025

A late-night journey from Hyderabad to Bengaluru ended in tragedy on Friday when a private luxury bus caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler near Chinnatekur village in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district. At least 12 people, including the biker, have been confirmed dead.

Friday's accident has revived memories of the 2013 Mahbubnagar bus fire -- also involving a Volvo coach on the same Hyderabad-Bengaluru route -- that killed 45 passengers. Following that incident, the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had submitted a detailed report highlighting several structural and design flaws in Volvo's long-haul bus models, describing them as highly vulnerable to fire accidents.

According to another survivor, Surya, the fire likely started around 2:45 am.

"A bike came and something happened. We don't have clarity. The bike went under the bus, and sparks started coming, and then the fire started. Everyone saw it, those who had to get down got down," he says.

Harika was asleep when the bus she was travelling in caught fire. Startled by the chaos, she woke up to find the flames had almost engulfed the vehicle. To her rescue was a broken door at the bus's rear exit. Harika managed to jump out. She escaped the deadly inferno with injuries before the bus turned into ashes, killing 12 people on board.

The incident must have happened around 3-3:30 am, says Harika, who was among the 40-odd passengers travelling to Bengaluru from Hyderabad. The bus caught fire on National Highway 44 near Ullindakonda in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh after colliding with a two-wheeler.

Most of the passengers were likely in deep slumber when the fire started, and found it difficult to exit after the fire. By the time Harika woke up, the flames had already started and spread across the bus within seconds. "The back door was broken, so I jumped out from there. In the process of jumping, I got hurt," says Harika.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he is "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.

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…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 24, 2025

At least 12 people have died in the Kurnool bus accident.

After noticing the fire, 20 people jumped out of the bus after breaking the windows. The FSL team is looking for anyone who might have been left behind.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "extremely saddened by the loss of lives" in a bus accident in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool.

"My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

PM Modi announced financial support of Rs 2 lakh to the family of those who died in the fire. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, PM added.

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.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 24, 2025

Nara Lokesh, General Secretary, Telugu Desam Party extended "deepest sympathies" to the families who have lost loved ones. He wished for the speedy recovery of those injured.

The news of the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district is heartbreaking. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones. Wishing speedy recovery to those injured.

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) October 24, 2025

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan extended heartfelt condolences to family members of those who died.

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.

— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) October 24, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu extended heartfelt condolences to family members of those who died.

The loss of lives in a tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is deeply unfortunate. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 24, 2025

Kurnool Bus Accident Update: 11 bodies have been recovered so far and 20 people have been rescued

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha expressed deep shock over the tragic bus accident in Kurnool district. "The government will stand by the families of the deceased in every possible way", she said.

Kurnool Bus Accident Update: Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic bus accident in which several passengers were burnt alive.

The news of the tragic bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district is deeply distressing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I urge the government to ensure all necessary assistance and medical support to the injured...

— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) October 24, 2025

Kurnool Bus Accident Update: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured government support.

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...

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 24, 2025

Private Bus With 40 Onboard Catches Fire After Hitting Bike In Andhra https://t.co/VLHMh6ZSQr@KP_Aashish reports pic.twitter.com/GGm0QJHEGc

— NDTV (@ndtv) October 24, 2025

Update: At least 10 people have been killed as private bus catches fire after hitting bus in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool

A Volvo bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru was engulfed in flames after it collided with a two-wheeler on the highway.

The impact sparked a major fire, completely destroying the bus. The two-wheeler rider also died in the accident.