Overview
- Police said a right-front tyre burst sent the Nellore–Hyderabad bus over the divider into an oncoming container lorry around 1:40 a.m. near Sirivella Metta in Nandyal district.
- The bus driver, identified as Obulesu alias Bhaskar, lorry driver Naveen Kumar, and lorry cleaner Abhishek died, while the 36 passengers were evacuated and treated for injuries at Nandyal Government Hospital.
- A passing DCM driver and local residents broke windows after doors jammed, enabling passengers to jump out before flames gutted both vehicles.
- Forensic teams from the Regional and State labs in Kurnool examined the scene to determine what triggered the blaze after the collision.
- Police registered a case, began recording survivor statements, and said highway traffic was restored after hours of disruption.