ANDHRA PRADESH: At least 20 passengers were killed when a bus caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh, local media reported.

The incident occurred on a state highway as the bus was traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. According to officials, the motorcycle got trapped under the bus after the collision and was dragged for some distance, causing fuel leakage and sparks that ignited a massive fire reaching the bus’s fuel tank.

Local authorities reported that after colliding with the motorcycle, the bus dragged it for some distance, causing petrol to leak and ignite due to sparks. The flames quickly reached the bus’s fuel tank, engulfing the entire vehicle in fire. The blaze resulted in heavy loss of life, completely reducing the bus to ashes.

The blaze engulfed the entire vehicle within moments, leaving it completely gutted. Authorities confirmed that 21 of the 41 passengers on board were rescued, though several are said to be in critical condition.

Emergency teams and local police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, while rescue and recovery operations continue.