RTC Bus Erupts in Flames in Andhra: What Caused the Fire?

Bus accidents continue to spark concern across the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

On Thursday (November 6), a major tragedy was narrowly averted when a moving bus of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) caught fire near Roddavalsa, about 20 km from Salur in Parvathipuram Manyam district.

Dramatic visuals of the incident have gone viral on social media. Fortunately, all 20 passengers and the crew managed to evacuate safely.

The bus, bearing registration number OD 10S 6754, was travelling from Vizianagaram to Jeypore in Odisha when the fire broke out. According to reports, the driver noticed smoke and flames emerging from the front portion of the vehicle and quickly alerted the passengers. The blaze is believed to have been caused by sparks from the battery connector.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the flames under control. However, the fire was so intense that only the skeletal frame of the bus remained once it was extinguished.

This near-tragedy follows a series of fatal accidents in the region — just days earlier, 19 people were killed in Kurnool, and another 19 lost their lives when a TGSRTC bus collided with a tipper truck in Telangana’s Chevella.

The spate of such accidents has once again raised serious concerns over vehicle maintenance and the Transport Department’s oversight in ensuring road safety.