At least 14 individuals lost their lives, and 15 others sustained injuries in a tragic incident when a private travel bus collided with a tipper truck and caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district. The accident occurred near Rayavaram early in the morning, resulting in both vehicles being completely engulfed in flames.
The bus, operated by Harikrishna Travels, was carrying 35 passengers at the time of the collision, with 15 passengers sustaining injuries and receiving medical attention at the government hospital in Markapuram. Unfortunately, the death toll may rise due to the critical condition of some of the injured individuals.
Among the deceased and injured were women and children, with ten passengers managing to escape the bus as the fire erupted. The bus was en route from Hyderabad to Pamuru in Prakasam district, carrying passengers from Kanigiri and Pamuru, while the tipper truck was transporting a concrete load from Chimakurthy to Markapuram.
Local authorities, including the police and firefighting teams, promptly responded to the scene to initiate rescue and relief efforts. Markapuram MLA K. Narayana Reddy, accompanied by senior officials, oversaw the relief operations on-site.
Expressing shock over the tragic incident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu communicated with officials to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care. He also instructed district authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the accident and provide a detailed report.
Transport Minister Manipalli Ramprasad Reddy and Minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh also extended their condolences to the families of the victims and directed officials to prioritize the treatment of the injured individuals.
