INDIA
At least 19 people have died, and over 20 critically injured after a bus burst into flames after a horror crash with a motorbike.
Screaming passengers were heard begging for help as a rampant fire tore through the bus within minutes in the middle of a highway in India.
Dozens of sleeping passengers on board were trapped inside after a high-speed collision on a highway near Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh state, senior police official Vikrant Patil confirmed.
A motorcycle rammed into the private bus from behind before getting stuck underneath at around 3:30am on Friday, Patil said.
The bike was dragged along the road for some time as it started to spark before igniting the bus’s fuel tank.
Smoke quickly started spreading as the driver pulled over and tried to use an extinguisher to put out the flames.
The fire proved to be too intense as the bus was engulfed by an inferno.
Many of those who had been sleeping during the early morning trip were suddenly awoken by the heat and smell of burning metal.
Some were forced to smash open the windows as they leapt to safety with only minor injuries.
Others were charred to death before help could arrive, Patil said.
Eyewitnesses recalled hearing passengers screaming for help as locals rushed to pull out any survivors.
The unidentified bike rider also died in the tragic crash.
Around 40 passengers were on board the Bangalore-bound bus at the time.
Forensic teams have been sent to identify the bodies with DNA tests potentially required due to the severity of the burns, reports say.
India’s President Droupadi Murmu called the incident “unfortunate”.
She said on X: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
Investigations are ongoing.
The tragedy comes less than a week after another fatal bus fire in Rajasthan saw 22 people including three children die when a vehicle traveling from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur caught fire near Thaiyat village.
Investigators believe that incident was caused by a short circuit in the air conditioning system, which led to a gas leak.
