Andhra bus accident: Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram woke up to a deadly road crash on Thursday, as 13 people were killed and 25 others were injured, after a private bus collided with a tipper truck near Rayavaram. The incident unfolded in the Prakasam district in the early hours of Thursday, between 5:30 to 6 am, the police said. 

According to officials, the crash occurred at a sharp turning point when the bus, operated by Harikrishna Travels, rammed headlong into a gravel-laden tipper vehicle from Kanigiri. The bus was bound for Vinjamuru in Nellore, and was arriving from Nirmal in Telangana, when it met the ill-fate. 

Collector confirms number of fatalities, authorities launch response swiftly

Markapuram District in-charge P Raja Babu told the media that 13 passengers on board the bus were charred to death as the vehicle caught fire, while 25 passengers sustained burns, and were admitted to the Markapuram Government Hospital. 10 of them, as per officials, sustained grievous burns, while five are in critical condition, and are being shifted to Guntur Government General Hospital for advanced treatment. 

No sooner did the incident transpire than the authorities launched rescue operations swiftly, with emergency teams rushing victims to nearby hospitals.

Andhra bus accident: PM Modi announces ex-gratia

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased, as well as Rs 50,000 for the kin of the injured. He said the assistance will be provided from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the loss of lives, and extended sympathies to the bereaved families. 

The mishap in Markapuram district, Andhra Pradesh, is tragic. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs.…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 26, 2026

Andhra Pradesh CM orders probe

Andhra Pradesh’s (AP) Chief Minister (CM) Chandrababu Naidu, in the aftermath of the incident, has ordered a probe. Preliminary findings conducted by the authorities suggest the bus may have veered into the opposite lane, while the driver reportedly claimed that the steering wheel malfunctioned. However, both aspects are under investigation. The CM has directed the officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured persons, and assured complete support to affected families. 

AP sees rising toll of bus accidents since 2025

Notably, the incident adds to a growing list of fatal bus accidents in the state. Since October 2025, AP has recorded at least five major bus-related mishaps, many involving fires, resulting in as many as 35 deaths.

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