Post by : Rameen Ariff

A tragic fire engulfed a bus in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday, resulting in the loss of 19 lives and shining a light on severe negligence and safety breaches in the private interstate bus sector. The catastrophe began when a Kaveri Travels bus collided with a motorcycle, dragging it for over 200 meters before igniting.

Telangana Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao indicated that the tragedy could have been averted had the driver stopped the bus promptly post-collision instead of fleeing. “The fire's initial cause was the negligence of the driver. Had the driver halted the vehicle, this disaster would have been prevented,” Rao expressed to NDTV.

Reports reveal that the bus, which had been unlawfully transformed from a 42-seater to a sleeper bus, lacked proper emergency exits, obstructed egress, and had no mini-hammers available for glass breaking. Additionally, non-fire-retardant materials used in the bus’s interior—including L foam, seat cushions, and synthetic curtains—exacerbated the fire's spread. Batteries and mobile phones in the luggage compartment further fueled the flames.

The driver, named Laxmaiah, allegedly left passengers to their fate as the fire escalated, neglecting to signal for help or facilitate an evacuation. Rao also called out Kaveri Travels for their failure to train staff and drivers adequately on emergency procedures. Telangana’s Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar cautioned that negligent operators could face murder accusations.

Authorities disclosed that the bus had a dubious registration history, initially registered in Daman and Diu and later in Odisha—often a method to evade scrutiny and tax obligations.

In light of this incident, both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments are set to implement stricter regulations. These measures will include urgent fitness and safety inspections of private buses, enhanced emergency training for drivers, confiscation of unfit vehicles, penalties for illegal modifications, and discouragement of non-fire-retardant materials in bus interiors. A collaborative meeting with Karnataka officials is anticipated to bolster road safety laws and avert future tragedies.

This horrific bus fire underscores the immediate necessity for rigorous safety enforcement in India's private bus industry, highlighting that negligence and illegal alterations can yield dire outcomes.

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