A CCTV video has shed new light on the tragic Kurnool bus fire in Andhra Pradesh that claimed 20 lives, revealing that the biker involved in the collision was likely under the influence of alcohol. The footage, recorded at a petrol pump around 2:23 a.m. on October 24, shows the biker, identified as Shiva Shankar, moving unsteadily near a fuel dispenser moments before the fatal crash. In the video, Shankar parks his motorcycle, appears to call for the pump attendant along with a pillion rider, and then rides off erratically — a sequence that investigators believe directly preceded the horrific accident near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district.
Police have confirmed that the motorcycle collided head-on with a Bengaluru-bound private bus operated by V Kaveri Travels. The impact caused the bike — which reportedly had its fuel cap open — to get lodged underneath the bus, triggering a massive fire that engulfed the entire vehicle within minutes. The inferno killed 19 passengers and the biker on the spot, while dozens of others narrowly escaped through shattered windows. Out of the 44 passengers aboard, several survivors recounted how the flames spread rapidly from the front portion of the bus, leaving little time to react.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the bus erupted into flames, illuminating the highway in the middle of the night. Passengers trapped inside screamed for help as the smoke thickened. The bus driver, Miriyala Lakshmaiah, managed to jump out through the passenger door and wake up the additional driver. Both men reportedly tried to rescue others by smashing windows with a metal rod, helping a handful of passengers escape. However, as the fire intensified, the driver fled the scene and was later apprehended by police.
Authorities have charged Lakshmaiah under Sections 125(a) (endangering human life) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing overspeeding and reckless driving. Investigators are also examining whether the bus exceeded permitted speed limits and if its safety equipment was functional. Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle’s fire suppression system either failed or was absent, a lapse that might have cost several lives.
The bus, registered in Daman and Diu, was operating under an all-India permit, allowing it to ply interstate routes. Police have seized its registration documents and are scrutinizing records from V Kaveri Travels, focusing on whether the company adhered to prescribed safety norms. Officials are also verifying claims that the bus had skipped mandatory maintenance checks.
In response to public outrage, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe the tragedy. The panel, comprising officials from the transport, roads, and revenue departments, has been tasked with determining both immediate and systemic failures that led to the deaths. “A detailed report will be submitted to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu after completion of the inquiry,” Anitha said, adding that accountability would be fixed on both the driver and the transport operator if negligence is established.
The Kurnool fire has reignited national debate over road safety, passenger transport regulation, and the enforcement of safety standards among private bus operators. Experts have called for stricter vehicle inspections, mandatory fire extinguishers on all long-distance buses, and routine breathalyzer tests for drivers and motorcyclists. Forensic teams are now analyzing fuel residues and burnt fragments from the site to confirm whether gasoline leakage from the motorcycle accelerated the blaze.
As investigations continue, grief and anger have gripped the families of the victims, many of whom were returning to Bengaluru after the Dussehra holidays. The tragedy, compounded by evidence of negligence and intoxication, stands as yet another grim reminder of how small lapses in safety and judgment can culminate in catastrophic loss.
