AT LEAST 14 passengers, including a five-month-old infant were killed on Thursday after a private bus collided with a gravel-laden truck, triggering a massive fire here in Markapuram district, officials said. Among the victims were five women. Most of the deceased were masons and those working in the construction sector. As many as 22 passengers were injured in the blaze, a senior official further said. “The toll touched 14 after accounting for the death of a five-month-old infant,” a police official told PTI, adding that the infant’s father died in the accident while its mother managed to survive. The accident occurred between 5:30 am and 6 am near Rayavaram village on the road leading to Podili when the bus rammed into the concrete chips-laden dumper truck, colliding with its fuel tank, which sparked a massive inferno.

 

There were 41 people in the bus at the time of the accident and all the deceased persons were burnt to death, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said. Markapuram district in-charge Superintendent of Police V Harshavardhan Raju said the bus driver was at fault prima facie as he had allegedly veered on to the wrong lane and collided with the tipper. He said the bus driver’s claim of the vehicle’s steering wheel getting stuck has to be probed further. DNA profiling was being done to establish the identity of the deceased. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the incident. “Deeply saddened to learn about the tragic bus accident in Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” Murmu said on X. PM Modi described the accident as “tragic,” and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased person.

 

The injured would be given Rs 50,000. CM Naidu held a teleconference with senior officials and ministers, directing them to extend the best possible medical care for all the injured victims. He extended a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased persons and Rs 2 lakh each to severely injured passengers. Further, Andhra Pradesh Cabinet conveyed its sympathies to over the ghastly accident. Ordering an investigation into the accident, Naidu offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assured full support from the State Government. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy directed Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to gather complete details about those who died and those who were injured in the accident.