Twelve years after a horrific bus fire on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad National Highway that claimed 45 lives, tragedy struck again in the early hours of Friday when 19 passengers were charred to death and several others injured after a luxury private bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire in Kurnool district.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the safety lapses in long-distance private bus operations.
Safety measures
Speaking to The Hindu, Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy, recalling the 2013 incident, said several safety measures were introduced then to prevent such accidents.
“During my earlier tenure as Transport Minister in 2013, I directed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to ensure that both private and State-run buses are equipped with an additional emergency exit apart from the main door to facilitate quick evacuation during emergencies,” he said.
Mr. Reddy noted that the decision proved crucial as most luxury AC sleeper buses had sealed windows, leaving passengers trapped during accidents. “After that directive, around 50,000 buses across Karnataka, including those operated by KSRTC and private companies, were retrofitted with extra emergency doors,” he explained.
A senior Transport Department official said that speed restrictions were also enforced to enhance passenger safety. “The KSRTC’s ordinary and express services are limited to 70 kmph, while premium services are capped at 90 kmph. Drivers are instructed to keep to the two left lanes on highways, allowing faster vehicles to overtake safely,” the official added.
Awareness measures
The official further recalled that awareness initiatives were also introduced following the 2013 tragedy. “We had instructed both government and private operators to play short video clips about the location and use of emergency exits before every journey. At that time, most premium buses had television screens that were used to play movies, so the clips were shown before departure. However, with passengers now mostly using their mobile phones, operators gradually discontinued these safety videos,” he said.
Another official pointed out that certain visual safety measures had also been mandated. “We had asked operators to install red indicator bulbs to highlight emergency exits and ensure that all exits were clearly marked and accessible. These practices are still followed in State-run buses, but private operators have been inconsistent,” he said.
Motorists raise concerns
Meanwhile, the tragic incident has also brought attention on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad highway, a crucial but increasingly congested corridor. Motorists have raised concerns about the road’s safety and the behaviour of some drivers along the route.
Sagar Kumar, a regular commuter, described the stretch as ‘super risky’. He said, “Driving on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru highway is safe not because of poor roads, but because of the driving etiquette. This highway should technically have six lanes with four-lane service roads. It’s a nightmare even during the day. Many private bus operators also cut corners on safety measures. I stopped travelling by bus on this route for these reasons.”
The transport officials said that while the approximately 100-km stretch from Bengaluru up to the Karnataka border near Bagepalli is in relatively good condition, monitoring overspeeding and enforcing safety norms remain priorities. “After this accident, we will explore how to strengthen checks on speed violations and improve surveillance along the route,” an official added.
The National Highways Authority of India was unavailable for comment.
Published – October 24, 2025 09:41 pm IST
