Amaravati: The driver of a private travel bus that caught fire after colliding with a tipper, killing 14 passengers in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district March 26, did not possess a valid driving licence, police said Wednesday.
The police also announced the arrest of the bus owner, Harikrishna Reddy, and the driver, Yuvaraj.
Both were presented before the media by the police in Markapuram. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nagaraju said the travel company owner had hired Yuvaraj as he would have had to pay a higher salary for employing a licensed driver.
The bus, belonging to Harikrishna Travels, was travelling from Jagtial in Telangana to Kanigiri in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district when it caught fire following a head-on collision with a tipper near Rayavaram March 26.
Fourteen passengers were charred to death in the incident, while 29 others sustained injuries.
The DSP said Harikrishna Reddy had purchased the second-hand bus eight months ago. The vehicle was not in good condition, and despite being aware of this, he continued to operate it.
The investigation also revealed that the bus was originally scheduled to reach its destination via Vinukonda in Prakasam district. However, as the vehicle required frequent repairs during the journey, it was diverted through a national highway.
Earlier, officials of the Fire Services Department had said that the semi-sleeper bus was travelling at high speed at the time of the accident.
The bus collided with the tipper coming from the opposite direction. According to officials, the bus swerved to the right instead of the left and hit the diesel tank of the tipper. Diesel spilt from the ruptured tank, triggering the fire.
Officials said the accident occurred after the bus driver veered into the wrong lane.
According to them, the use of highly flammable material in the bus also contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The presence of an emergency exit door helped save the lives of around 20 passengers.
