20 Burnt Alive in Hyderabad-Bengaluru Highway Horror: CM Naidu Mourns Tragic Bus Fire
At least 20 people were burnt alive after a bus caught fire on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway. CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep condolences over the horrific tragedy
Hyderabad/Bengaluru: In a horrific late-night tragedy that sent shockwaves across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, at least 20 passengers were burnt alive when a private travel bus caught fire on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway early Friday. The devastating accident occurred near Narketpally in Nalgonda district, leaving behind a scene of chaos, grief, and charred wreckage.
According to initial reports, the ill-fated bus, belonging to a private travel company, was en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with more than 40 passengers on board. Around 1:30 a.m., the vehicle reportedly collided with a median divider before bursting into flames within moments.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly, leaving little time for those trapped inside to escape. Thick black smoke engulfed the area, and screams for help could be heard from the burning bus until firefighters and local residents arrived at the scene.
“We saw the bus swerving suddenly and hitting the divider. Within seconds, it was completely engulfed in flames,” said Ramesh Naidu, a truck driver who witnessed the tragedy. “The fire spread so fast that most people couldn’t get out in time.”
Emergency response teams, including firefighters, police, and medical personnel, rushed to the scene after receiving distress calls. Locals also tried to assist in breaking windows and rescuing passengers before the fire grew uncontrollable.
Despite efforts, 20 people were confirmed dead, many of them burnt beyond recognition. Around 24 passengers sustained injuries, several of them critical, and were rushed to nearby hospitals in Nalgonda and Hyderabad.
A senior fire official at the site described the scale of the tragedy as “unimaginable.”
“It appears the fire started from the engine area and spread instantly, possibly due to a fuel leak. We are investigating all possibilities, including electrical short-circuiting and overheating,” he said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a post on social media, Naidu wrote,
“Deeply pained by the tragic bus fire on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway that claimed several lives. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
Naidu has directed district officials to provide immediate medical assistance and compensation to the families of the victims. He also ordered a high-level inquiry into the cause of the fire and safety lapses, if any, on the part of the private bus operator.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also expressed grief over the tragedy and announced that the state government will extend all necessary support to the victims and their families. “This is a dark day. We must ensure accountability and prevent such horrific accidents in the future,” Reddy said in a statement.
Officials said that the bodies of many victims were charred beyond recognition, making immediate identification difficult. Authorities have begun the process of collecting DNA samples from family members to confirm the identities of the deceased.
Police officials stated that the remains were being shifted to the Nalgonda District Government Hospital for postmortem and forensic analysis. Families have been urged to come forward with travel details, photographs, and identity documents of missing relatives.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus may have suffered a mechanical failure, possibly an engine overheating or a diesel leak, which triggered the blaze. The bus’s diesel tank, located near the front wheel section, is believed to have exploded due to the impact of the crash, causing the flames to spread instantly through the passenger cabin.
Forensic teams are examining the charred remains of the vehicle to determine whether any flammable materials were being carried illegally in the luggage compartment. The bus operator is under scrutiny, and police have detained the driver and cleaner for questioning.
Survivors described scenes of horror and chaos as passengers scrambled to escape through shattered windows and the rear emergency exit.
“The fire spread so fast that we couldn’t breathe,” said one survivor admitted at a Nalgonda hospital. “Those sitting near the front were trapped immediately. Only those sitting at the back managed to jump out in time.”
Another passenger said the driver initially tried to control the flames but was forced to flee when the fire grew uncontrollable. The heat and smoke inside the bus made it nearly impossible to rescue those trapped near the front section.
This tragedy has once again drawn attention to the safety standards of private travel buses in India, especially on long interstate routes. India records thousands of fatal bus accidents each year, often due to over-speeding, driver fatigue, or poor vehicle maintenance.
In 2013, a similar bus fire on the Bangalore-Hyderabad route claimed 45 lives after a diesel tank explosion. Despite multiple reforms and safety advisories issued since then, enforcement remains weak, with many operators failing to adhere to prescribed fire safety norms.
Experts say that many private buses lack proper fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and automatic alarm systems — all of which could help save lives in case of a fire outbreak.
“Tragic incidents like this keep repeating because we treat safety as an afterthought,” said transport analyst Dr. Vivek Sharma. “Stricter enforcement and regular safety audits are crucial to avoid such horrors.”
The news of the accident has sparked widespread grief across the country. Social media platforms were flooded with condolences, with hashtags like #HyderabadBusFire, #HighwayTragedy, and #PrayersForVictims trending throughout the day.
Leaders from across political parties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to express condolences. The tragedy has once again reignited discussions about highway safety, bus fire protocols, and emergency response systems in India’s rapidly growing transport sector.
Police have registered a case under sections of negligence and culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the bus company. Officials confirmed that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is assisting in determining the cause of the blaze.
The Transport Department is also examining whether the bus had undergone recent safety inspections and if it had valid permits for interstate operation.
Authorities have set up a dedicated helpline for families seeking information about passengers. A control room has been established in Nalgonda to assist relatives in locating the injured and retrieving the remains of victims.
Local NGOs and volunteers have stepped forward to donate blood and provide assistance to survivors undergoing treatment. Many families of victims from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have begun arriving at the site to identify their loved ones.
As dawn broke over the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway, blackened debris and the smell of burnt metal stood as a grim reminder of one of the region’s deadliest bus accidents in recent years.
While investigations continue, experts stress that this tragedy must serve as a wake-up call for authorities and transport operators alike. Routine safety checks, driver training, and strict compliance with fire safety standards are not just formalities — they are matters of life and death.
For now, the focus remains on providing justice to the victims and support to the bereaved families as India mourns yet another preventable road disaster.
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