Three dead, ten injured as Hyderabad bus hits lorry
Alerted by locals, police rushed to the spot, rescued the injured, and shifted them to Nandyal Government General Hospital for treatment.
Hyderabad woke up to tragic news on Wednesday after a devastating road accident in Andhra Pradesh claimed three lives and left more than ten passengers injured. The horrific collision occurred in the early hours of January 21 near Shirivellametta in Shirivella Mandal of Nandyal district, turning a routine overnight journey into a scene of chaos and loss.
According to officials, the accident took place around 2 am when an ARBCVR Private Travels bus was travelling from Nellore to Hyderabad with 36 passengers on board. As the bus approached Shirivellametta, it reportedly suffered a sudden tyre burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered across the road divider and slammed head-on into an oncoming container lorry.
The impact of the collision was severe, triggering a massive fire that quickly engulfed both vehicles. Flames spread rapidly, leaving passengers trapped in panic as thick smoke filled the bus. Eyewitnesses said the blaze intensified within minutes, reducing large portions of the bus and lorry to charred wreckage.
Tragically, three people lost their lives in the accident — the bus driver, the container lorry driver and the lorry cleaner. Officials said their bodies were burnt beyond recognition due to the intensity of the fire, complicating identification efforts.
Amid the devastation, a moment of courage stood out. A DCM truck driver who was passing through the stretch noticed the burning vehicles and immediately stopped. Without waiting for help, he rushed towards the bus and smashed open its doors, allowing trapped passengers to escape. His quick thinking and bravery are believed to have prevented a much higher death toll.
Several passengers managed to run out of the bus, while others were forced to jump through windows to escape the flames. More than ten passengers sustained injuries in the process, most of them minor, caused by broken glass, burns and the impact of jumping from the moving vehicle. Many survivors described moments of terror as fire spread rapidly and visibility dropped.
“The fire was everywhere. People were screaming and trying to get out any way they could,” said one injured passenger receiving treatment at the hospital. “If that driver hadn’t helped open the doors, many of us might not have made it.”
The fire destroyed all passenger luggage, leaving survivors with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Locals from nearby villages rushed to the spot after noticing the blaze and hearing cries for help. They alerted the police and emergency services, who arrived shortly afterward.
Police teams conducted rescue operations at the scene and arranged for ambulances to transport the injured to Nandyal Government General Hospital. Hospital authorities said all injured passengers are currently stable and receiving treatment. Counselling and support are also being provided to those who witnessed the traumatic incident.
Senior police officials said a case has been registered and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the tyre burst and assess whether negligence or mechanical failure was involved. Traffic on the route was temporarily disrupted as fire services worked to douse the flames and clear the wreckage.
The accident has once again highlighted concerns over road safety, particularly during night travel and long-distance bus journeys. Authorities have urged transport operators to conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks and ensure strict compliance with safety norms.
As families mourn the loss of their loved ones and survivors recover from their injuries, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly lives can change on India’s highways — and how individual acts of courage can make a life-saving difference in moments of crisis.