Nalgonda: How driver's presence of mind saved 29 lives after bus caught fire near Veliminedu

Hyderabad: A private travel bus carrying as many as 29 passengers from Hyderabad to Kandukur (Andhra Pradesh) was completely gutted after fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday.

The incident occurred near Veliminedu village in Chityal mandal, Nalgonda district, 150 km from Hyderabad.

Fire broke out at midnight when the air‑conditioned sleeper coach left the depot.

Swift action saves lives

According to initial reports, the driver detected the fire and alerted passengers, who managed to smash the window panes and evacuate just in time. Moments later, the vehicle was reduced to a mangled heap of metal.

Fortunately, no casualties have been reported among the passengers. The bus was registered in Nagaland.

Probe underway into cause

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the blaze. The fact that the coach was fully destroyed within minutes has raised questions about safety measures, emergency exits, and the bus’s maintenance history.

Just a few weeks earlier, a catastrophic bus fire near Chinnatekur village in Kurnool district (Andhra Pradesh) claimed at least 19 lives after a Hyderabad‑to‑Bengaluru bus collided with a motorcycle and was engulfed by flames.

Investigations revealed that the vehicle had undergone unauthorised modifications, including an illegal sleeper‑coach conversion and faulty wiring, raising serious safety concerns in private bus operations.