‘Extremely Saddened’: PM Modi Announces Compensation for Victims of Kurnool Bus Fire

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the Kurnool bus fire that claimed at least 20 lives early Friday. He announced compensation of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured in the blaze.

“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The tragedy occurred around 3:30 a.m. near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal, Kurnool district, when a private bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle. The two-wheeler became trapped under the bus, striking the fuel tank and triggering a massive fire.

The bus, operated by Kaveri Travels, was carrying approximately 44 passengers, most of whom were asleep when the incident happened. Police said a dozen passengers managed to escape with minor injuries, while 20 were killed. Kurnool District Collector A. Siri stated that the bodies of 11 victims have been identified so far, with efforts ongoing to identify the remaining.

Scary visuals from the scene showed the bus completely engulfed in flames before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Rescue operations were carried out immediately by local authorities and fire services.

The Prime Minister’s announcement aims to provide immediate relief to the victims’ families while expressing solidarity and support during the difficult aftermath of the accident.