Hyderabad: A journey at the end of a joyful festive weekend turned into a nightmare for passengers aboard the private bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. In an instant, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, jolting them awake to a scene of sheer horror.Panic erupted as people scrambled to escape, using whatever they could – mobile phones, laptops, even elbows and knees – to break windows and jump out.
For many, the ordeal unfolded in mere seconds but felt like an eternity. Nelakurthi Ramesh, 36, was on his way back to Bengaluru with wife Sri Lakshmi and their two children after visiting relatives over the weekend.Recounting the terrifying moments, he said: “When I woke up, all I could see was flames – bright yellow and orange. I could barely breathe. My first thought was my wife and children; I knew I had to get them out safely. With my bare fists, I smashed the rear window and pushed my family out of the burning bus. Others followed us, and we ran as far as we could. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital.”Ghantasala Subramanyam, 26, a resident of Bahadurpally, was awakened by a fellow passenger’s urgent shake. “Amid the sizzling sound and sight of leaping flames, it took me a moment to process what was happening,” Subramanyam said. “I grabbed my bag and tried to exit through the main door, only to find it jammed as the fire spread rapidly. I saw someone smashing a window using a laptop, and without hesitation, I jumped out along with 10 others.“He also recalled the kindness of a stranger driving the same route, who offered to take him and three others to the nearest hospital.The deafening roar of shattering glass and approaching flames left a lasting impression on many. Jayanth Kushwal, 27, who hails from Vidyanagar, said: “All I remember is people frantically trying to escape. Some smashed the rear windows, others broke the ones by their seats. There were glass shards all around. It was terrifying.”Many survivors described scenes of panic and courage, where instinct overrode fear and the fight for life became paramount.Naveen Kumar, 26, from Hayathnagar said: “There wasn’t a second to think, everything happened instinctively. When I saw someone break the emergency door at the rear, I rushed towards it. In the chaos, I fractured my left leg. Around me, people were trapped, struggling to escape. I couldn’t help them, and that haunts me. But, in those moments, there was nothing anyone could do.”
