Hyderabad: The investigation into the Kurnool bus fire in Andhra Pradesh, which claimed 20 lives early Friday, has gained a crucial lead following the emergence of CCTV footage capturing the dead motorcyclist’s suspicious behaviour shortly before the tragic collision. The video suggests that B Shiva Shankar, 22, may have been riding recklessly, possibly under the influence of alcohol or other substances, when he collided with a private luxury bus belonging to V Kaveri Travels on NH-44.

The bus, travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru with 46 passengers, caught fire immediately after the collision, trapping 19 passengers who were asleep. A total of 27 passengers survived by breaking windows and jumping out of the burning vehicle. Preliminary investigations indicate that friction and fuel leakage from the motorbike ignited the fire.

CCTV footage raises questions about biker’s behaviour

The newly surfaced video shows Shiva Shankar arriving at a petrol pump around 2:23 am with a pillion rider. There was no attendant present, and the footage captures erratic behaviour: the pillion rider walked off, presumably to find someone to refuel the vehicle, while Shiva Shankar struggled to handle the bike, moving around the pump and even yelling in frustration before finally riding away.

Authorities noted the biker’s unsteady movements, raising suspicion that he might have been under the influence. The pillion rider is now in police custody, and forensic examination of the biker’s viscera has been conducted to confirm the presence of alcohol, which could significantly influence the investigation.

Crash and immediate consequences

Around 3–3:30 am, near Ullindakonda, the collision occurred. Investigators are exploring multiple scenarios:

  1. The motorcyclist may have had an accident earlier, and the bus driver failed to notice it in the dark and rain, dragging the bike for 200 metres and igniting a fire.
  2. The crash may have been caused directly by the biker’s reckless riding.

Both bus drivers, Laxmaiah and Siva Narayana, have been arrested on charges of negligent driving. Telangana Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has publicly criticised the bus operator for safety lapses.

Safety lapses and regulatory concerns

Investigations into V Kaveri Travels have revealed alarming regulatory irregularities:

  • The bus was originally registered in Daman and Diu and reportedly re-registered in Odisha last year, possibly to avoid higher taxes and stricter oversight.
  • The sleeper coach may have been illegally converted from a standard seater bus, compromising structural safety and emergency exit accessibility.
  • Survivors reported that basic emergency tools, including mandatory mini hammers, were missing or inaccessible, preventing timely evacuation.

The transport department, police, and revenue officials have formed a high-level committee to probe these angles and ensure accountability.

Ongoing probe

Investigators are analysing CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and forensic evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events. The probe will determine whether driver negligence, biker recklessness, illegal bus modifications, or a combination of these factors led to the tragedy. Officials stress that the investigation aims to prevent similar disasters on highways by enforcing stricter safety standards and compliance for private operators.

The Kurnool bus fire has sparked a renewed focus on regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness, and road safety measures for private long-distance bus services in India.