A fake licence, a drunk biker, and a negligent travel company; these three factors together triggered the Kurnool bus fire tragedy in Andhra Pradesh, which claimed 20 lives and exposed dangerous gaps in road safety enforcement.
Fraud Licence, Arrested Driver
Miriyala Lakshmaiah, the driver of the double-decker bus, has been arrested. Investigators found that he studied only till Class 5 but obtained a heavy vehicle licence with a fake Class 10 certificate.
As per rules, a transport driver must have studied at least up to Class 8. Such rules are often flouted, with fake documents used to secure licences.
How the Crash Happened
Late on Friday night, Shiva Shankar and Erri Swamy met with an accident near Chinna Tekuru. Their bike hit a divider, killing Shiva instantly.
Erri suffered injuries and tried to move Shiva’s body off the road. Before he could remove the bike, the bus ran over it.
The two-wheeler got stuck under the bus, its fuel tank exploded, and the bus went up in flames. Nineteen passengers died on the spot, while others escaped through emergency exits.
Biker Was Drunk
Police confirmed that both Shiva and Erri were drunk, based on forensic tests. CCTV footage showed Shiva riding rashly after refueling at a petrol pump minutes before the accident.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said drunk drivers are “terrorists” and called the crash a “preventable massacre.”
Bus Driver and Travel Company Under Scanner
Kurnool SP Vikrant Patil told media that two buses managed to dodge the motorcycle before the ill-fated one ran over it.
While the biker’s reckless act triggered the incident, negligence charges are open against the bus driver for failing to spot a stationary object on the road.
The travel company is also under investigation for illegally converting the bus into a sleeper coach, suspicious re-registration to bypass checks, and lack of emergency tools like window-breaking hammers, which worsened the death toll.
A Systemic Failure
This tragedy highlights how road safety rules are routinely broken in India. Fake licences, lack of enforcement, and drunk driving continue to claim thousands of lives.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in 2023 alone, 2,690 drunk driving accidents killed 1,442 people.
The Kurnool incident is a grim reminder that without strict enforcement and accountability, passengers continue to travel at their own risk.
