At least 14 killed, several injured after bus-lorry collision in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram

At least 14 people were killed, and 23 others were injured after a private bus collided with a lorry on early Thursday (Mar 26) in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district. Both vehicles were engulfed in fire following the accident. Several injured are reportedly in critical condition. According to officials, the bus was travelling from Jagtial in neighbouring Telangana to Kaligiri in Nellore district. There were about An investigation is underway, and efforts to identify victims are underway.

Police and fire department personnel reached the scene promptly after receiving information about the accident and launched a rescue operation. The fire was brought under control soon, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including Markapur Hospital, for treatment, according to a Times of India report.

According to preliminary reports, the impact of the collision resulted in a massive fire within a few minutes.

Markapuram Superintendent of Police (SP) V Harshavardhan Raju said, “Fourteen people died in the accident and 23 injured persons have been shifted to hospital, including the driver. Efforts are on to gather complete details of the incident.”

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his shock and sorrow over the loss of lives. He also directed officials to conduct an investigation into the accident and submit a report. In a post on X, he wrote, “Honourable Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the road accident that occurred near Rayavaram in Markapuram district. He conveyed profound grief over several passengers in the bus being burned alive in the incident where a tipper collided with a private travel bus. He directed officials to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the accident and submit a report.”