DNA profiling confirms identities of all 19 Kurnool bus fire victims

All 19 victims who lost their lives in the tragic bus fire accident in Kurnool district have been identified through DNA profiling, and their bodies have been handed over to the respective families, officials confirmed on Monday.

The private travel bus, carrying 44 passengers from Hyderabad to Bengaluru, caught fire in the early hours of Friday (October 25) after colliding with a two-wheeler near Chinnatekuru village in Kallur mandal. The vehicle went up in flames within minutes, leaving 19 passengers charred to death, while several others managed to escape with minor injuries.

Following the accident, DNA samples from the charred remains were collected and sent to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) in Vijayawada for analysis. The bodies were preserved in cold storage until the identification process was completed.

“All 19 bodies have been identified and handed over to the families after the completion of DNA verification and legal formalities,” said Kurnool Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Sandeep Kumar.

Officials said the identification process concluded on Sunday evening (October 26), and the bodies were handed over to the families on Monday morning (October 27). Families of victims from Bihar and Tamil Nadu, who travelled to Kurnool to claim the remains, decided to perform the cremations locally in Andhra Pradesh, citing the condition of the bodies and long-distance transport difficulties.

The Andhra Pradesh government made arrangements for the cremations at designated sites in Kurnool district, providing logistical support such as transport, materials for last rites, and assistance from local officials.

Meanwhile, survivors of the accident who sustained minor injuries were treated at Kurnool Government General Hospital and have since been discharged. No passengers remain hospitalized as of Monday.

Though the official list of deceased victims has not been made public to respect the privacy of the families, officials confirmed that the passengers hailed from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.

The Kurnool district administration, in coordination with police and forensic experts, has completed all formalities related to the tragic incident.

The Telangana government has announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the families of victims belonging to the state and has already begun distributing the compensation through respective district administrations in Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, and Karimnagar. The Andhra Pradesh government has also declared an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each for all the deceased passengers, irrespective of their native state, since the accident occurred within Andhra territory. Officials said the Kurnool district administration has forwarded detailed reports to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department to expedite the release of funds. For victims from Tamil Nadu and Bihar, coordination is underway with their respective state governments for additional relief, though no separate announcements have yet been made.

The fatal accident has sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement of road safety and fire preparedness norms for long-distance private buses operating between major cities in South India.