Andhra Bus Fire: Passengers Use Everyday Items to Survive
In a heart-stopping incident on a busy Andhra Pradesh highway, passengers aboard a private luxury bus narrowly escaped a deadly fire using improvised survival tools—mobile phones, elbows, and even laptops. The blaze erupted near Nellore, turning the journey into a frantic struggle for survival. Remarkably, all 42 passengers escaped alive, though traumatized.
The Horror Inside the Burning Bus
The bus, traveling from Hyderabad to Chennai, caught fire around 6:30 AM. A passenger first noticed smoke near the rear seats, which quickly escalated into flames.
“I woke up to screams and thick smoke,” said Ramesh Kumar, a software engineer onboard. “People were scrambling toward exits, but the main door was jammed in the chaos.”
How Phones, Elbows, and Laptops Became Lifesavers
Trapped passengers used whatever they had to break free:
- Mobile Phones as Flashlights & Signals – Passengers turned on phone lights to navigate the smoke-filled bus and waved them at windows to signal help.
- Elbows and Shoes to Smash Windows – With no hammers, desperate travelers used elbows, fists, and shoes to shatter glass for escape routes.
- Laptops as Heat Shields – Some, like Priya Menon, used laptop bags to protect their faces while crawling toward exits.
“It was like a nightmare—people were throwing anything to break windows,” said survivor Arjun Reddy.
Miraculous Rescues by Locals and Police
Nearby truck drivers and highway patrol teams rushed to help pull passengers out. One woman was rescued just as flames reached her seat. Most suffered smoke inhalation, but no lives were lost—a miracle given the fire’s intensity.
Investigation Reveals Electrical Fault
Officials suspect an electrical short circuit caused the fire. Authorities are probing whether the bus had working fire extinguishers and emergency exits.
Survivors Demand Stricter Bus Safety Rules
“Luxury buses must follow safety norms,” said survivor Anjali Rao. State officials vowed stricter checks on private operators.
A Wake-Up Call for Travel Safety
This near-tragedy highlights the urgent need for better safety enforcement in India’s transport sector. Survivors remain grateful for their narrow escape—and the everyday items that saved them.
—Reporting by NextMinuteNews | Follow for live updates.
