An unfortunate accident occurred in Kurnool during the early hours of Friday. A biker reportedly crashed into a Private Travels bus and hit its fuel tank, causing the bus to catch fire instantly.
The blaze killed nineteen people on board. The bus had 44 passengers, including two drivers and two helpers. One driver fled the scene, while the other was arrested by the police.
The tragic accident happened on NH 44, while the bus was travelling from Hyderabad to Bangalore. Most of the passengers, believed to be from Hyderabad, were asleep when the crash took place. The injured were shifted to Kurnool’s Sarvajana Hospital for treatment.
Soon after the incident, Sakshi TV began politicising the tragedy, blaming the government for allowing unfit private buses to operate. The channel aired reports alleging that the government supports the so-called “Private Travels Mafia.”
Adding to the confusion, YSR Congress social media teams circulated claims that the bus’s fitness certificate had expired five months ago and that it lacked valid insurance and pollution certificates for over a year.
However, the Andhra Pradesh Government quickly released official records refuting those allegations. The bus had all documents in order its fitness certificate valid until March 31, 2027, road tax paid up to March 31, 2026, and valid insurance and pollution certificates. The AP Fact Check Unit confirmed these details and dismissed the rumours.
It is deeply unfortunate that such a tragedy was exploited for petty politics. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief and assured strict action. He stated that no one would be spared if negligence was found to be the cause.
Naidu held a video conference with Transport Minister Mandipalli Ram Prasad and other officials. He directed a joint inquiry involving Telangana and Karnataka authorities and ordered immediate relief for the victims and their families.
