NELLORE, Mar 26 (V7N) – A horrific road accident claimed the lives of at least 14 people and left 22 others injured in the early hours of Thursday, March 26, after a private passenger bus collided head-on with a tipper lorry in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. The collision occurred near Rayavaram village at approximately 6:00 am, triggering a massive fire that rapidly engulfed both vehicles. Officials from the Fire Service and local police reported that many of the victims were "charred to death" as the intense flames trapped passengers seated in the rear section of the bus, giving them little time to escape.

The ill-fated bus, operated by Harikrishna Travels, was en route from Nirmal and Jagtial in Telangana to Vinjamuru and Kaligiri in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Initial reports indicate that the bus was carrying roughly 40 passengers—many of whom were migrant construction workers returning to their native villages. While about 13 passengers seated near the front managed to scramble to safety, those in the back were caught in the inferno. The injured have been rushed to the Markapuram Government Hospital, where at least three individuals remain in critical condition.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep shock and grief over the tragedy, directing district authorities to ensure the highest level of medical care for the survivors. The state government has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the accident, with preliminary assessments suggesting the bus may have veered into the opposite lane due to overspeeding or a mechanical failure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

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