The Kurnool bus accident that claimed 20 lives was likely caused by a drunk biker, a forensic report has concluded.
The biker — B Shiva Shankar — who died in the crash, had allegedly been driving under the influence when his bike skidded on the wet road and fell. This comes as the bus driver, M Lakshmaiah, has been formally arrested.
“The driver was inebriated and the headlight of the bike was not working. As a result of rash driving under the influence of alcohol, the bike met with an accident,” K Praveen, DIG Kurnool, told The Indian Express. The biker died while the pillion, Yerri Swamy, escaped with minor injuries. Nineteen passengers of the bus also died after it allegedly collided with the bike and burst into flames.
The Indian Express had earlier reported that the bike run over by the bus carrying 41 passengers was already lying on the road at the time. “The bus came in contact with the bike lying near the divider, ran over it, and dragged it for about 300 metres before the explosion,” Praveen said.
Police questioning of the pillion rider revealed he had tried to get the biker and the bike out of harm’s way. “There was enough evidence to suggest the biker was under the influence. We now have conclusive proof as the viscera sample tested positive for alcohol,” DIG Praveen said.
Shiva, from B Thandrapadu village in Kurnool, worked in the granite business. On Thursday evening, he left home after telling his mother, B Yashoda, that he had work at Dhone.
The accident is under investigation by a Special Investigation Team of the Andhra Pradesh police. Based on Swamy’s statement, police had earlier concluded the bike had crashed before the bus collided with it. CCTV footage showed Shiva refueling the bike minutes before the accident.
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Footage from a petrol pump shows him arriving at 2.24 am with his friend, skidding as he leaves. The bus passed the outlet at 2.39 am, and the accident occurred around 2.45 am. Another clip shows the biker and pillion buying liquor earlier that night, police said.
Hours later, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar made a controversial statement, writing on X: “Drunk drivers are terrorists and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific #Kurnool bus accident, which claimed 20 innocent lives, was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre caused by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of an intoxicated biker.”
He added, “This was not a road mishap but a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds.”
Meanwhile, Lakshmaiah, 45, who was taken into custody Friday, was formally arrested Sunday, police said. “The driver will be produced before the magistrate tomorrow (Monday),” a police source said.
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According to sources, Lakshmaiah, earlier believed to be absconding, claimed he was not speeding as it was raining. “He was driving at 80 to 90 km per hour,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express.The second driver, Siva Narayana, 30, has not been arrested as he was not driving at the time and has been “cooperating with the investigation”. “He had the presence of mind to break open the windows and save people trapped inside. So, we are not thinking of arresting him as of now,” the source said.
Police have also recorded the statement of pillion rider Swamy, 20, who was taken to the spot to recreate the scene. “He told us that two buses passed by the bike within minutes of the accident and did not hit it. The third bus met with the fatal collision,” the source said.
