‘Drunk Drivers Are Terrorists,’ Says Hyderabad Police Commissioner After Kurnool Bus Tragedy That Killed 20 Passengers
The horrific accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district claimed 20 lives when a Bengaluru-bound bus caught fire after colliding with a motorcycle; CM Chandrababu Naidu orders probe.
Hyderabad/Kurnool: Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar has strongly condemned drunk driving after the devastating Kurnool bus accident that killed 20 passengers, calling such drivers “terrorists on the roads.”
The tragic incident occurred when a Kaveri Travels bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru rammed into a motorcycle, causing the bus to catch fire within minutes. Most of the passengers were burnt alive.
According to the police investigation, the crash happened when a drunk biker, identified as B. Shiva Shankar (21) from Tandrapadu village in Andhra Pradesh, came in front of the bus. Sajjanar said the biker’s reckless behavior caused what he described as “a preventable massacre.”
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sajjanar wrote:
“Drunk drivers are terrorists. Their acts are nothing less than terrorism on the roads. The Kurnool bus tragedy is not a simple accident but a preventable mass killing caused by an irresponsible, drunk motorcyclist who destroyed several families within moments.”
Reiterating his statement, Sajjanar added:
“I stand by my words — drunk drivers are terrorists. They destroy lives, families, and futures. There will be no leniency for such offenders.”
He further stated that the Hyderabad Police has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drunk driving. “Anyone caught driving under the influence will face the strictest punishment under law. It’s time society stops calling drunk driving a ‘mistake’ — it is a crime,” he stressed.
Accident details
Contrary to initial reports, police investigations revealed that the motorcycle was stationary on the road at the time of the collision. The bus hit it from behind, which triggered a massive fire.
Footage from a nearby petrol pump’s CCTV provided a clear timeline of the events:
- 2:22 a.m.: Shiva Shankar and his friend Eri Swami arrived at the petrol pump.
- 2:26 a.m.: They left the station on their bike.
- 2:39 a.m.: The Kaveri Travels bus passed the same location.
- 2:49 a.m.: The fatal crash occurred near Chinna Tekuru village.
After the accident, Shiva Shankar’s body was found on the road divider, while his friend survived with injuries and later recounted the entire incident to police.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
