At least 20 killed in bus fire in southern India
At least 20 people died after a tourist bus caught fire in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
According to Hindustan Times, the incident occurred when a Kaveri Travels bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bangalore with around 44 passengers collided with a motorcycle on a national highway.
Police reported:
"The two-wheeled vehicle got stuck under the bus and hit the fuel tank, causing an immediate explosion and rapid spread of flames throughout the bus."
Most passengers were asleep at the time of the accident. Some woke up, broke windows, and jumped out, but many were trapped inside as the fire engulfed the bus within minutes. Local residents rushed to the scene and tried to rescue the victims before firefighters arrived.
Authorities have launched an investigation, suggesting that reckless driving and a fuel leak could have caused the fire. The bus drivers reportedly fled the scene immediately after the accident and are currently being sought.
