In a harrowing incident on Kurnool’s busy roads, a skidding bike, exploding fuel tank, and panicked driver triggered a devastating bus fire. The June 10 tragedy has reignited road safety concerns in Andhra Pradesh. Here’s how events unfolded.
The Collision: Skidding Bike Sparks Chaos
Around 8:30 AM near the Kurnool-Hyderabad highway—a hotspot for speeding—a motorcyclist lost control while overtaking a truck. The bike skidded, throwing the rider onto the road. Though he escaped with minor injuries, the bike slid into an oncoming private bus.
Driver Srinivas Reddy (45) braked but hit the bike, rupturing the bus’s poorly maintained fuel tank. “We heard scraping, then saw fuel leak,” said eyewitness Ramesh Kumar.
The Explosion: Diesel Meets Spark
Leaking diesel ignited—likely from the bus’s damaged exhaust—causing a massive blast. Flames engulfed the rear, trapping passengers. “Fire spread fast; people screamed and pushed,” survivor Meena Devi recalled.
Panic Escalates: Driver’s Critical Mistake
Reddy, reportedly panicking, reversed the bus to shield nearby shops. This fanned flames toward the front. “Evacuating immediately might’ve helped,” a fire official noted.
Rescue & Aftermath: Miraculous Survival
Locals smashed windows to pull passengers out. Firefighters arrived in 15 minutes but found the bus gutted. All 32 survived, though 12 suffered severe burns. The motorcyclist was among the injured.
Safety Failures Exposed
Investigations highlight:
– Faulty bus maintenance: Fragile fuel tank prone to rupture.
– Driver training gaps: Reddy’s emergency response questioned.
– Highway hazards: Poor signage and reckless driving.
Kurnool Collector G. Srijana pledged stricter inspections and training.
A Road Safety Wake-Up Call
While no lives were lost, the fire underscores systemic risks—neglected maintenance, driver panic, and lax protocols. Without reforms, similar tragedies loom.
— Reported by NextMinuteNews Kurnool correspondent
