Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
A devastating bus fire struck Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Friday morning, resulting in the loss of 19 lives. This tragedy has shed light on alarming negligence and safety issues within the private interstate bus industry. The incident started when a Kaveri Travels bus collided with a motorcycle, dragging it for more than 200 meters, which ignited a fierce fire that consumed the bus.
Telangana Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao noted that the fire could have been avoided had the bus driver stopped right after the crash instead of fleeing the scene. “The fire was primarily caused by the driver's negligence. Had he halted the vehicle, this unfortunate event could have been averted,” Rao stated in an interview with NDTV.
Investigations revealed that the bus, which had been illegally modified from its original 42-seater configuration to a sleeper, lacked adequate emergency exits and mini-hammers for breaking glass. Furthermore, the use of non-fire-retardant materials, such as L foam and synthetic curtains, aided the rapid spread of flames. Additional fuel for the fire included batteries and mobile phones stored in the luggage compartment.
Reports indicate that the driver, Laxmaiah, abandoned the passengers during the fire’s escalation, neglecting to raise an alarm or assist with evacuations. Rao also criticized Kaveri Travels for failing to provide proper emergency training for both staff and drivers. Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar warned that operators who exhibit such negligence could face serious criminal charges.
The bus's registration history raised eyebrows, as it initially registered in Daman and Diu before its transfer to Odisha—a tactic often used to dodge regulatory scrutiny.
In response, the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have pledged to implement stricter safety regulations. These will encompass comprehensive safety inspections of private buses, improved training for drivers in emergencies, the seizure of unfit vehicles, penalties for illegal modifications, and a ban on non-fire-retardant materials. A collaborative meeting with Karnataka officials is also planned to fortify road safety laws to avert similar disasters in the future.
This tragic event underscores the pressing need for rigorous safety standards in India's private bus sector, emphasizing that negligence and unauthorized modifications carry fatal risks.
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