Kaveri Bus Accident In Kurnool: Passenger List Released, 25 Names Confirmed

Authorities are working to verify the list of passengers who were travelling on the V Kaveri Travels bus from Hyderabad to Bengaluru when it caught fire near Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district early on Friday, October 24, 2025. The bus, carrying around 40 passengers, reportedly claimed over 25 lives, with several others injured. Families of passengers have been urged to contact the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh transport departments to report missing relatives and provide identification details.

Officials said the accident occurred in the early morning hours while it was raining. Reports indicate that the bus, moving at high speed, collided with a two-wheeler on the roadway. The two-wheeler reportedly got trapped underneath the bus, creating intense friction between metal surfaces, which generated heat and ignited a fire in the lower portion of the vehicle. Despite the rain, sparks and heat buildup caused the flames to spread rapidly.

Passenger Distribution

According to Gadwal Collector, 13 passengers on board were from Telangana and 12 from Andhra Pradesh. Authorities are verifying the complete passenger list to ensure accurate reporting of casualties and survivors. Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos as passengers struggled to escape the rapidly spreading fire.

Bus Ownership and Statutory Compliance

The V Kaveri Travels bus, owned by Vemuri Vinod Kumar, had all major statutory permits and documents in order. Speaking to The Hindu, Transport Commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha confirmed that the vehicle's ownership, registration, permit validity, fitness certification, tax payments, and insurance coverage were all current and valid.

The bus was purchased on May 2, 2018, and initially registered in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu on August 8, 2018. It was later re-registered with the Rayagada Regional Transport Office (RTO), Odisha, on April 29, 2025.

• The Odisha Transport Department had issued a tourist permit valid from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2030, allowing the bus to operate as a tourist vehicle within the state.
• The vehicle also had an All-India Tourist Permit (AITP) issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, valid from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, authorising operations throughout India.
• The fitness certificate, issued in Silvassa, Daman and Diu, was valid until March 31, 2027. Road tax had been paid until March 31, 2026, and insurance coverage was valid until April 20, 2026.

Traffic Violations and Overspeeding

Despite having valid permits, the bus had a record of 16 unpaid traffic challans in Telangana, totalling ₹23,120, for overspeeding, incorrect permits, and dangerous driving. Authorities said prior complaints about reckless driving and taking wrong routes had been raised, highlighting longstanding safety concerns.

In response to the tragedy, the Prime Minister's Office announced ex-gratia compensation of ₹2,00,000 for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. The Telangana transport department has launched a detailed investigation, scrutinising driver conduct, vehicle maintenance, and adherence to traffic rules. Officials have emphasised accountability and preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Kurnool Bus Accident: Injured Passengers' Details

Authorities have shared the list of passengers injured in the V Kaveri Travels bus fire near Chinnatekuru village, Kurnool, on October 24, 2025. Around 21 passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries, while some have been admitted to hospitals and others have recovered after treatment.

Details of Injured Passengers:

• Mannempalli Satyanarayana, 27, Khammam District - Seat U-11
• Badantra Jayasurya, 24, Hyderabad - Seat L-16
• Andoj Naveen Kumar, 26, Hyderabad - Seat L-11
• Saraswathi Harika, 30, Bengaluru - Admitted to Kurnool GGH
• Nelakurthi Ramesh, 36, Nellore District - Seat L-6
• Sri Lakshmi, spouse of Nelakurthi Ramesh
• Jaswitha, 8, daughter of Nelakurthi Ramesh
• Abhiraa, 1.8 years, son of Nelakurthi Ramesh
• Kapar Ashok, 27
• Musaluri Sri Harsha, 25, Nellore
• Punupatti Keerthi, 28, Hyderabad - Seat U-8 (discharged after treatment)
• Venugopal Reddy, 24 - discharged from Akash Hospital, Kurnool
• M.G. Rama Reddy - discharged from Akash Hospital, Kurnool
• Ghantasala Subramanyam - admitted at Akash Hospital, Kurnool
• Aswin Reddy - no injuries
• Akash - no injuries
• Jayanth Kushwal - no injuries
• Pankaj Prajapathi - no injuries
• Guna Sai - minor injuries, resting at a lodge
• Siva, son of Ganesh - no injuries, left for Bengaluru - Seat L-18
• Glowriya Elsa Saam - no injuries

Authorities continue to monitor the condition of hospitalised passengers, while those who sustained minor injuries have returned home or are resting at nearby lodges.