Police personnel investigate the spot after a Hyderabad-bound private bus caught fire following a collision with a two-wheeler, near Chinnatekur in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.
Credit: PTI Photo
Talking about the Kurnool bus fire tragedy, V C Sajjanar, Commissioner of Hyderabad Police, said that "drunk drivers are terrorists", and vowed to show "no mercy" on drunk drivers.
In a social media post on X, he wrote, "Drunk drivers are terrorists and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific Kurnool bus accident, which claimed the lives of 20 innocent people, was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre, caused by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of an intoxicated biker. This was not a road mishap but a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds."
"The biker, identified as B. Shiva Shankar, was under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage shows him refueling his motorcycle at 2:24 am, minutes before he lost control and caused the devastating collision at 2:39 am His decision to drive drunk turned a moment of arrogance into a tragedy of unimaginable scale."
He further wrote, "I stand firmly by my statement that DRUNK DRIVERS ARE TERRORISTS in every sense. They destroy lives, families, and futures. Such acts will never be tolerated."
"In Hyderabad, we are adopting a zero-tolerance stance against drunk driving. Every single person caught driving under the influence will face the full force of law. There will be no leniency, no exceptions, and no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives. It’s time we, as a society, stop calling drunk driving a mistake. It is a crime that shatters lives and must be punished accordingly," he said.
Forensic reports revealed that B Siva Sankar, the rider of the two-wheeler, was under the influence of alcohol when his bike hit the highway divider near Chinnatekuru and caught fire after colliding with the Bengaluru-bound sleeper bus operated by V Kaveri Travels.
His companion, Yerriswami, who was pillion rider, reportedly confessed to Kurnool police that both had consumed alcohol.
Police have also filed an FIR against the driver and owner of V Kaveri Travels under Sections 125(A) and 106(1) of the BNS, holding them responsible for negligence that led to the devastating bus inferno.
The bus was found to be carrying in its luggage cabin a consignment of around 300 smartphones worth an estimated Rs 46 lakh, being transported to Bengaluru for a leading e-commerce company by Hyderabad-based businessman K Manganath.
Probe teams found that the bike involved in the initial crash had got lodged under the bus as it moved forward, dragging along for some distance. Sparks generated during the drag, coupled with leaking petrol, led to ignition. The flames first caught the luggage cabin, where the smartphone shipment was kept.
Experts also believe that several victims died due to inhalation of thick smoke while struggling to find an escape route. Observers noted that had there been a proper emergency exit, many could have survived.