Rayavaram (Andhra Pradesh), Mar 26: At least 13 people aboard a private bus were burnt to death and 22 injured in a blaze triggered following the vehicle’s collision with a tipper here in Markapuram district on Thursday, top government officials said.
The accident occurred between 5:30 am and 6 am near Rayavaram village on the road leading to Podili when the bus rammed into the concrete chips-laden dumper truck, colliding with its fuel tank, which sparked a massive inferno.
“There were 41 people in the bus at the time of the accident and all the 13 deceased persons were burnt to death,” Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said.
According to her, the bus belonged to Harikrishna Travels and its owner hails from Kanigiri. She said the bus possessed license and insurance till December 2026.
The private bus was heading to Kaligiri in Nellore district from Jagtiyal in Telangana.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the incident.
Markapuram in-charge SP V Harshavardhan Raju said the preliminary probe pointed to the bus veering off into the wrong lane and hitting the truck.
“People sitting in the tipper were injured. The impact was also in the middle at the diesel tank of the tipper. It is visible that the bus hit the truck,” Raju told reporters.
Besides the impact and diesel tank-powered blaze, he said the bus’ battery also caught fire, leading to five deaths in the and eight in the rear.
He said the driver’s claim of the bus’ steering wheel getting stuck has to be probed further.
Among the injured, three are reported to be in critical condition, said an official press release.
President Murmu condoled the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
“Deeply saddened to learn about the tragic bus accident in Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” Murmu said on X.
PMa Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased person. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.
“The mishap in Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh, is tragic. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” PM Modi said.
Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy expressed profound shock and grief over the road accident.
Naidu held a teleconference with senior officials and ministers, directing them to extend the best possible medical care for all the injured victims and adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and injured passengers.
Ordering an investigation into the accident, Naidu offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assured full support from the state government.
Revanth Reddy directed Telangana Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to gather complete details about those who died and those who were injured in the accident.
The survivors recounted the horror of the early morning tragedy.
Several completely burnt bodies lay on the road before being shifted to ambulances for further formalities. The rib cage of one body was also visible, indicating the severity of the blaze.
A male passenger, who was checking his phone at the time of the accident, said most people were asleep.
“I was checking my phone. I was seated in the middle. I opened the emergency door and helped a woman out,” he said, recalling his escape. (PTI)
