Kurnool bus fire: Passengers recount terrifying moments inside Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus

Hyderabad: A devastating bus fire near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district on Friday reportedly claimed the lives of over 19 passengers, including four members of a single family from Gollavaripalli village, Vinjamuru Mandal, Nellore district.

The victims, including 37-year-old G. Ramesh, his wife Anusha (32), and their children Manish (12), and Manvitha (10) have left relatives and neighbours in deep mourning.

Ramesh, a long-time employee of a private company in Bengaluru, and his family were among the 22 passengers who died when their bus caught fire following a crash. The family was returning from a company trip to Hyderabad when the tragedy struck.

Community in Mourning

The death of Ramesh, his spouse, and children has left Gollavaripalli village in deep grief. Relatives and local residents gathered to mourn the devastating loss that has shaken the community.

Passenger Horror: Flames engulf the bus

Passengers recounted terrifying moments inside the Vemuri Kaveri Travels’ bus, which was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru when it caught fire following a collision with a bike.

Harika, a passenger on the Volvo bus, described waking up to chaos as flames engulfed the vehicle early in the morning. “The back door was broken, so I jumped out from there. In the process, I got hurt,” she said. She escaped with injuries, while the fire consumed the bus, killing 12 passengers on board.

“Since it’s a sleeper bus, we just get on and sleep. We don’t know how many people are there or who is there due to the curtains,” Harika added, highlighting the difficulty many passengers faced in escaping.

Ashwin, a passenger seated behind the driver, recounted the terrifying moments when the fire broke out. “We boarded the bus from Kukatpally to Bengaluru. Between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., I saw flames near the window and immediately informed the driver,” he said. The bus was halted, and passengers attempted to break the windows to escape. “Around 20 people managed to get out, but sadly, many could not,” Ashwin added.

Eyewitness Accounts: Fire Sparks from Collision

Another survivor, Surya, said 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,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have made it if that emergency window hadn’t opened,” said 27-year-old Jayant Kushwaha, one of the survivors. He described a sudden loud noise, rapidly spreading flames, and the desperate scramble to escape by breaking a window.

Another survivor, Akash, echoed the harrowing experience: “I boarded the bus after Diwali. Suddenly, the fire erupted. I broke the bus window and jumped out along with two others. It was sheer luck that we survived.”

Accident triggered by Collision

Officials confirmed the fire broke out after the bus collided with a bike near Chinnatekuru village. Combustible materials inside the AC sleeper coach intensified the blaze, making evacuation difficult.

Several passengers who boarded at Suraram and JNTU stops survived by jumping through emergency exits, while many others remain unaccounted for.

Emergency Response and Relief Efforts

Fire tenders and police rushed to the site to control the blaze and assist survivors. Authorities are tracing all passengers and providing support to the affected families. The tragedy has left local communities and relatives in shock, as officials continue efforts to account for the missing and provide aid.