Kurnool bus tragedy claimed 20 lives: Inside details from driver's contradictory statements and survivors' narration

A Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in the wee hours of Friday after reportedly hitting a two-wheeler and catching fire at National Highway 44 (NH-44) in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool.

The bus which was carrying 44 passengers was travelling from Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana.

Twenty including the two-wheeler driver died.

The survivors, many of whom broke open the window to survive, recounted the horror.

According to police and the survivors, the bus had hit the two-wheeler which got trapped under the larger vehicle and hit its fuel tank causing the explosion.

Another report claims the bike with its fuel tank open caused the fire when it was dragged by the bus.

Based on the complaints of the survivors, a case of negligence and overspeed has been registered against the two drivers.

Siva Narayana, who was the second driver, was taken into custody but Lakshmaiah, who was driving the bus, fled the spot.

The mystery over the accident grew after Siva changed his statement.

Though initially Siva claimed the bus had hit the two-wheeler amid heavy rain that had reduced the visibility, he later changed his statement saying Lakshmaiah unknowingly ran over the two-wheeler and its rider who was lying there on road due to a previous accident.

The bus, which was almost reduced to ashes, has a record of multiple challans for flouting several rules as well as dangerous driving.