ASCI to conduct safety probe into Kurnool bus inferno that claimed 20 lives

The rise in fire accidents involving moving buses, often resulting in heavy loss of life, has become a major concern for both the public and authorities in Andhra Pradesh.

The issue has once again come into sharp focus following a recent bus fire at Sirivella Metta in Nandyal district, which claimed three lives.

This comes close on the heels of the tragic bus inferno on NH-44, near Nayakallu flyover in Kurnool district on October 24, 2025, in which 20 passengers lost their lives, exposing serious gaps in vehicle safety standards and emergency preparedness.

In response, the Andhra Pradesh Government, through its Transport Department, has decided to commission an independent technical investigation into the fatal road accident.

The State has sought the expertise of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, to carry out the inquiry.

Acting on the directions from both the State Government and the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS), the Transport Department has formally requested the ASCI to constitute a multidisciplinary team of experts to conduct a comprehensive technical examination of the accident and its circumstances, and submit a detailed report.

Officials in the Transport Department say that the investigation will focus on identifying systemic lapses in safety regulations, vehicle maintenance practices, emergency response protocols, and enforcement mechanisms that may have contributed to the high number of fatalities. The inquiry will also seek to establish the root causes of the crash.

Importantly, the expert panel is expected to recommend improvements in bus design and operational practices, including enhanced in-vehicle safety features aimed at preventing fires or reducing their impact during accidents.

“The safety and feasibility of sleeper buses in India will also be examined, especially in the context of international practices, where such buses are either banned, or heavily restricted due to evacuation challenges and heightened fire risks,” says a top official of the transport wing.

The move is aimed at ensuring accountability and evidence-based policy interventions to prevent recurrence of such tragedies, say officials, adding that the findings will help strengthen passenger safety norms and align State practices with the broader mandate of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, which has been pressing States to take firm corrective measures to reduce road fatalities.