Kurnool Bus Accident Mirrors 2013 Palem Tragedy On NH-44
- Death Road NH-44: Palem-like tragedy repeats after 12 years
- Kurnool bus accident kills 20; forensic teams identify victims
- Experts recall 2013 Palem inferno that claimed 45 passengers
Kurnool bus accident | Hyderabad, Oct 24: A horrific bus accident on National Highway 44 near Chinnatekur on the outskirts of Kurnool has claimed at least 20 lives, including a biker named Shiva Shankar.
Officials confirmed that the burnt bodies have been recovered from the site, and rescue operations are still underway. About 23 passengers managed to escape safely, though authorities warn that the death toll may rise further as several victims remain unaccounted for.
Andhra Pradesh Transport Minister Ram Prasad Reddy rushed to the scene and reviewed the recovery of bodies. Forensic teams have reached the site and begun inquest and post-mortem procedures. Authorities have also initiated arrangements to identify the deceased through DNA testing before handing over the remains to the families.
Kurnool Bus Accident
The deadly crash has brought back chilling memories of another ghastly incident that occurred almost exactly 12 years ago. On October 30, 2013, a Jabbar Travels Volvo bus traveling from Bengaluru to Hyderabad caught fire near Palem in Mahabubnagar district. The bus was carrying 51 passengers when it hit a culvert while overtaking a car.
The fuel tank reportedly leaked and exploded, leading to an inferno that killed 45 people on board. Most of the victims were software engineers returning home for Deepavali. Only the driver, cleaner, and five passengers survived that tragedy.
A subsequent CID investigation into the Palem accident resulted in a 400-page report submitted to the Centre. The report cited multiple causes for the fire and listed the names of R&B officials, Jabbar Travels management, and J. C. Prabhakar Reddy’s wife in the chargesheet.
Investigators found defects in bus manufacturing and seat alterations that violated safety regulations. They concluded that the fuel tank’s placement close to the tyres allowed the flames to spread rapidly. Overloading, improper seating modifications, road construction flaws, and dangerous goods onboard were also identified as contributing factors to the massive fire.
The latest disaster on NH-44 bears grim similarities to the Palem tragedy, underlining persisting concerns about vehicle safety standards and enforcement failures on India’s busiest highways.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
