After the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a bike on Friday, catching fire and killing at least 20 people, new reports say the bus had as many as 16 challans registered in its name.
According to the Andhra Pradesh transport department, the challans were issued for 16 violations of traffic rules—including high-speed and dangerous driving—between January 27, 2024 and October 9, 2025, as per a local media report.
Fines were also imposed after the bus reportedly entered no-entry zones nine times.
However, the transport department has clarified that the bus, registered under DD01N9490 from Daman and Diu in 2018, was fit, blaming the fire on its "strong" collision with the bike.
"We are investigating thoroughly from all angles. We will take steps to prevent future accidents as per the investigation report," AP transport officials said in the report.
They added that its fitness certificate was valid till March 31, 2027, and that it was insured until April 20, 2026.
The accident took place on National Highway 44 at Chinnatekur, in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool. While an official death toll and accident report is awaited, eyewitnesses have told local media that the collision—which took place at about 3:30 AM—caused the fuel tank of the bike to explode. This reportedly triggered a fire in the front of the bus, which quickly engulfed the rest of it.
Most passengers on the bus, including children, were asleep when the tragedy took place, a surviving passenger told Telugu channel NTV.
"The emergency windows weren’t working, but some of us managed to break the windows and jump out,” he said.