Chinnatekuru, Andhra Pradesh: A passenger bus has caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle, killing at least 25 people and injuring several others, police confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred on a highway near Kurnool district in southern India. According to senior police official Vikrant Patil, the fire spread within minutes, trapping dozens of passengers, many of whom were asleep at the time. While some managed to smash windows and escape with minor injuries, others were burned before help could arrive.
Eighteen passengers who escaped the burning vehicle are receiving treatment for injuries. It remains unclear if there were additional survivors. Patil remarked that, “The motorcycle rammed into the speeding bus from behind and got stuck, dragging for some distance. Sparks from the collision ignited the bus’s fuel tank.”
I am shocked to learn about the devastating bus fire accident near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool district. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. Government authorities will extend all possible support to the injured and…
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) October 24, 2025
The driver attempted to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher but was unable to control the flames. The bus, carrying 44 passengers between Hyderabad in Telangana and Bengaluru in Karnataka, was destroyed in the blaze. The motorcycle rider also died in the accident. A team of forensic experts has been deployed to investigate the incident.
Chinnatekuru village, where the crash occurred, is located about 210 kilometres south of Hyderabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
This marks the second deadly bus fire in India in less than two weeks. Earlier this month, a suspected short circuit caused a bus fire in Rajasthan, killing at least 20 people.
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