Chandrababu Naidu govt forms high-power panel to probe fatal Kurnool bus fire

The Andhra Pradesh government has formed a probe panel to ascertain the cause of the fatal bus accident in Kurnool on Friday. As many as 20 people died in the tragedy during the early hours of the day.

The high-power panel includes officials from multiple departments and the Andhra Pradesh government will take further action based on the probe panel's report. Home Minister V. Anitha said senior officials from transport, roads and revenue departments are part of the probe team and they are expected to submit the report soon. 

"The government has constituted a high-power committee with officials from the transport, roads and revenue departments to investigate the bus fire accident," Anitha said. She added that the Bengaluru-bound bus possessed a valid All-India Permit and fitness certificate.

The accident took place on National Highway 44 at Chinnatekur, in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool, during the early hours of Friday. The bus belonging to Vemuri Kaveri Travels caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle. The fuel tank of the two-wheeler burst, triggering the blaze, eyewitnesses said.

According to authorities, the bus was carrying 39 adult passengers, four children and two unidentified persons. One of the passengers deboarded earlier, while the other remained onboard. Officials said most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.

The home minister said 10 special teams have been deployed to collect and examine DNA samples for identification of the deceased, while four forensic teams are probing the cause of the fire, and two teams are handling chemical analysis, the minister said.

As many as nine persons are undergoing treatment. Six people are undergoing treatment with fractures at Kurnool Government General Hospital (GGH), and three are undergoing treatment at a private facility. 

According to reports, 16 challans have been issued for traffic violations against the bus.