Kurnool bus tragedy: 'Biker involved in accident was drunk', reveals forensic report

Hyderabad: In a major revelation in the Kurnool bus tragedy that claimed 19 lives, it has now been confirmed that the biker responsible for triggering the fire was drunk. 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.

Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil said on Sunday that the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) had detected traces of alcohol in the viscera samples of the deceased.

“On October 24, a road accident occurred near Chinnatekuru village under the jurisdiction of Ulindakonda Police Station, where a Kurnool resident, Siva Sankar, died on the spot in a self-caused accident. The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Kurnool, submitted its analysis report on the incident. According to the RFSL report, traces of alcohol were found in the viscera samples of the deceased. Based on this report, it was determined that the deceased was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident,” said Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil on Sunday.

Police further said that a separate case was registered at Ulindakonda Police Station against Siva Sankar, based on a complaint filed by his friend Yerriswami, who survived the mishap. The FIR includes Sections 281, 125(A), and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to rash driving and causing death by negligence. Yerriswami reportedly told police that both men had consumed alcohol before starting the journey.

Meanwhile, 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 driver Miriyala Laxmiah has been named as Accused No. 1 (A1), and the owner Vemuri Vinod Kumar as Accused No. 2 (A2), following a complaint from a passenger identified as Ramesh.

The horrific mishap, which occurred in the early hours of October 24, gutted the private sleeper coach, killing 19 passengers who were trapped inside as the flames spread rapidly.