It’s a familiar ritual for millions of Indians. You book a ticket, find your narrow berth, pull the curtain for a semblance of privacy, and surrender to the gentle rocking of the highway, hoping to wake up in a new city. But for the passengers on that ill-fated bus in Kurnool, this journey into slumber became a horrifying descent into a fiery nightmare. The recent tragedy, which saw lives and dreams turned to ash, is not just another unfortunate accident. It is a damning indictment of a system that allows our highways to be plied by what can only be described as “sleeping deathtraps.”
A Predictable Tragedy, Not a Freak Accident
Let’s be clear: the fire in Kurnool was not an anomaly. It was the predictable, tragic outcome of a deep-rooted rot of negligence, corruption, and a callous disregard for human life. These sleeper buses, promising comfort and convenience, are often mobile tinderboxes. The very design that offers privacy—cramped berths, flammable synthetic curtains, foam mattresses, and narrow aisles—becomes a lethal labyrinth in an emergency. Add to this the common and illegal practice of carrying flammable cargo in the luggage hold, and you have a recipe for disaster waiting for a single spark.
The Anatomy of a Bus Fire Inferno
The anatomy of these tragedies is tragically consistent. A short circuit, an overheating engine, or a minor collision sparks a fire. The cheap, combustible materials used in the interiors ensure the flames spread with terrifying speed, engulfing the cabin in toxic smoke within minutes. The emergency exits, if they exist at all, are often blocked by illegal modifications for extra berths or are simply jammed shut. Passengers, waking from sleep to a state of panic and disorientation, find themselves trapped in a burning coffin with no escape. Where are the fire extinguishers? Often, they are either non-existent, expired, or the crew is untrained in their use. The single-door entry and exit point becomes a bottleneck of sheer terror.
A Vicious Cycle of Negligence and Corruption
This is where the blame game begins, a vicious cycle that ensures nothing ever changes. Bus operators are the first culprits, prioritising profits over people by cutting corners on safety maintenance and flouting regulations with impunity. But they are not alone. The Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), the very bodies meant to be our watchdogs, are often complicit. How do these structurally unsafe vehicles, packed with flammable materials and lacking basic safety equipment, receive a ‘fitness certificate’? This question hangs heavy in the smoke-filled air after every such incident. The certificate, it seems, has been reduced to a piece of paper bought, not earned.
Breaking the Cycle: Demanding Accountability and Action
After the headlines fade and the initial outrage subsides, a familiar pattern emerges: official condolences, announcements of ex-gratia payments, and a committee formed to “look into the matter.” Meanwhile, thousands of identical buses continue their nightly journeys, each one a potential repeat of the Kurnool horror.
This cycle of death and apathy must be broken. We need a complete overhaul, not piecemeal solutions. Key steps should include:
* Stringent Audits: Surprise, non-negotiable safety audits of every single sleeper bus on the road.
* Official Accountability: Holding RTO officials personally and criminally liable for certifying unsafe vehicles.
* Mandatory Safety Equipment: Enforcing the installation of smoke detectors, automatic fire suppression systems, and multiple, easily accessible emergency exits with hammers to break the glass.
The trust we place in a service provider when we close our eyes to sleep on a long journey is profound. The Kurnool fire is a brutal reminder of that trust being betrayed in the most horrific way possible. These are not just buses; they are our citizens, our families. The next time you book an overnight ticket, you shouldn’t have to wonder if you’re paying for a ride or a risk. It’s time to demand an answer, and it’s time for the system to provide one that doesn’t go up in smoke.
