A Bengaluru-bound private bus from Hyderabad caught fire in this district Friday after colliding with a two-wheeler, leaving 12 people dead, a senior police official said.

Official sources indicated that the toll may rise. Among the deceased was the biker.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy expressed anguish over the incident.

PM Modi also announced ex-gratia.

According to initial reports, the motorcycle collided with the bus near Chinnatekur in Kurnool and got dragged underneath with its fuel cap open, triggering the blaze.

“So far, 11 passengers and a biker have died. Police are entering the bus to assess the situation, and the fate of nine other passengers is yet to be ascertained,” Kurnool R

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