Amaravati, March 27, 2026: Officials have blamed overspeeding and lack of lane discipline by the bus driver for the tragic accident that killed 14 people, including women and a five-month-old baby, near Rayavaram village in Markapuram district.
The bus, operated by Harikrishna Travels and travelling from Jagtial in Telangana to Kaligiri in SPSR Nellore district, rammed into an oncoming gravel-laden tipper lorry around 5:40-6:30 am. The impact damaged the lorry’s diesel tank, spilling fuel that quickly engulfed the bus in flames.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services in-charge Director General P. Venkata Ramana said the bus swerved incorrectly to the right instead of left, crossed lanes, and hit the lorry.
He pointed to negligent driving, poor awareness of highway markings, and the use of highly flammable materials in the bus as factors that worsened the fire. An emergency door helped save nearly 20 passengers.
