A major tragedy struck in the early hours of Friday when a private bus caught fire after colliding with a two-wheeler at Ulindapadu, on the outskirts of Kurnool.
At least 12 people died, and several others were severely injured in the incident.
District Collector Dr. A. Siri confirmed the death toll and said both drivers managed to escape safely. All 12 bodies have been identified.
The V Kaveri Travels bus was traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with about 40 passengers and two drivers when the crash triggered a massive fire, trapping many inside.
Most passengers were between 35 and 40 years old, and several escaped by breaking the emergency windows.
According to preliminary reports, the air-conditioned bus caught fire after hitting the two-wheeler during heavy rain.
While some passengers escaped, others were trapped inside. Around 10 injured passengers have been shifted to Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment.
Senior officials including DIG Dr. Koya Praveen, SP Vikrant Patil, and Joint Collector Nurul Quamar rushed to the spot to oversee rescue operations.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alerted the district administration and directed officials to provide the best medical care to victims.
Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy also expressed condolences and directed coordination with Andhra Pradesh authorities for relief measures.
A helpline is being set up, and officials have been instructed to monitor the situation closely.
