District-wise data indicates the scale of the operation

66 cases were reported in Nandyal district, 36 in Palnadu, 34 in Prakasam, 25 in Tirupati, 8 Chittoor, 14 in Kurnool, 42 in NTR district, 42 in Annamaya district

In the aftermath of the tragic Kurnool bus accident, the Andhra Pradesh Transport Department has intensified its special enforcement drive across the state. Acting on the directives of Transport Commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha, officials have been conducting rigorous inspections of private travel buses for the past two days to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations.

According to official reports, 361 private travel buses have been booked for violating transport and safety norms, while 40 buses have been seized for serious infractions. The inspections revealed that 63 buses had unauthorized modifications, including unapproved alterations to passenger seating arrangements.

Officials also imposed hefty fines on buses operating without mandatory fire extinguishers, emphasizing that the absence of essential fire safety equipment poses severe risks to passengers. Additionally, 11 buses were caught operating without emergency doors, and 83 buses were found lacking fire extinguishers altogether.

Further scrutiny revealed that 14 buses did not have proper fire alarm and safety systems, while 11 others were illegally transporting goods and parcels without authorization. Authorities have taken stringent action in all these cases, imposing fines and registering cases against the violators.

In addition to enforcement, transport authorities are also focusing on public awareness and passenger safety education. Inspecting officers have been demonstrating emergency evacuation procedures, teaching passengers how to safely exit through emergency doors in the event of accidents.

Transport Commissioner Manish Kumar Sinha reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring passenger safety and accountability among private bus operators. He warned that non-compliance with safety regulations would invite severe penalties, including suspension of permits.

The ongoing statewide drive underscores the Transport Department’s resolve to prevent further tragedies and to enforce the highest standards of passenger safety across Andhra Pradesh’s private transport sector.

Andhra bus fire accident: Both bike-borne persons were drunk, say police

Kurnool: Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday confirmed that the two bike-borne persons connected to the Bengaluru-bound bus fire accident, which claimed the lives of 19 passengers, were drunk.

In the wee hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met in an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district.

There were 44 passengers on the bus and several managed to escape.

The two-wheeler was dragged forward underneath the bus, leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent ignition of the fire.

"We just received the forensic confirmation that the two bike-borne persons (Siva Shankar and Erri Swamy) were drunk," said Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Koya Praveen.

Though police were aware that the duo was in an inebriated condition, they did not confirm this fact as they were waiting for forensic evidence.

The DIG on Saturday night said that the duo had food in a dhaba and Swamy had admitted to consuming liquor.

According to police, Shankar and Swamy had started off on the two-wheeler from Lakshmipuram village around 2 am on October 24 to drop the latter at Tuggali village in Kurnool district.

En route, the duo had halted at the HP petrol bunk near Kia car showroom to fill petrol at 2.24 am, said Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil.

A video of their halt at the petrol bunk went viral and Shankar was seen riding the two-wheeler rashly.

Shortly after resuming their journey, the two-wheeler skidded, resulting in Shankar falling to his right and hitting the divider. He died on the spot.

Over the past few days, the southern state witnessed widespread rainfall, leaving wet and muddy roads amid inclement weather.

When Swamy had pulled Shankar from the middle of the road and checked him, he had died on the spot, Patil said.

"Even as he was thinking of pulling the bike aside from the road, the bus rushed in and ran over it, dragging it forward to some distance," said Patil.

Following the two back-to-back accidents and the bus engulfing in a raging fire, Swamy got scared and left for his native village of Tuggali.

Later, police picked up Swamy and questioned him to unearth the crucial details of the ghastly accident.