40 dead in Andhra Pradesh bus crashes in six months

• TNN

• Published On Mar 27, 2026 at 12:15 PM IST

On March 21, over 40 passengers in a private AC bus had a miraculous escape in Vizianagaram district after a tyre burst caused a fire.

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In just over six months, more than 40 people have died in horrific bus accidents in Andhra Pradesh, from north coastal region to Rayalaseema, with each incident exposing how unregulated and unsafe passenger transport is despite years of govt promises.The repeated bus tragedies are raising questions about how these buses are being certified, modified and allowed to operate. Fitness certification reduced to just paperwork, weak checks, and unsafe vehicles allowed to operate without proper scrutiny were among the factors listed by commuters for the situation.The bus fire in Markapuram district on Thursday was described as the latest in a growing line of sleeper coach tragedies, in which passengers were trapped inside. On March 21, over 40 passengers in a private AC bus had a miraculous escape in Vizianagaram district after a tyre burst caused a fire.

In the past few months, six cases of private bus fires were reported, including one in Kurnool district in October 2025 that claimed 20 lives. The tragedy revealed alarming lapses in the vehicle’s design, maintenance and operation, which contributed to the fatal blaze. Combustible materials and suspected goods were also found inside the bus, turning it into a death trap.

In December 2025, nine people from Chittoor district were killed when a private bus carrying 35 tourists plunged into a gorge in ASR district, with the driver’s negligence blamed for the accident.