Tourist Bus Catches Fire in India, Dozens Dead

At least 20 people lost their lives in a fire that broke out on a tourist bus in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The incident occurred when the "Kaveri Travels" bus, which was en route from Hyderabad to Bangalore and carrying around 44 passengers, collided with a motorcycle on the national highway.

According to police, "The motorcycle got wedged under the bus and hit the fuel tank, which caused an explosion to occur immediately, and the flames quickly spread throughout the entire bus." Most of the passengers were sleeping when the accident happened. Some managed to wake up, break the windows, and jump out, but many remained inside as the fire engulfed the bus within minutes.

Local residents rushed to the scene and attempted to rescue victims before the firefighters arrived.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, suspecting that reckless driving and fuel leakage could be potential causes of the fire. Reports indicate that the bus drivers fled the scene immediately after the crash and are still being sought.