Bus Fire in Andhra Pradesh: 37 Passengers Escape Unharmed

A private bus carrying 37 passengers from Bhubaneswar to Malkangiri in Odisha caught fire early Saturday morning near Ramabhadrapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district, but all aboard escaped unharmed due to the driver's quick actions.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on March 22, 2026, when the rear tire of the Odisha Travels bus burst, triggering a blaze that rapidly engulfed the vehicle. The bus had departed Bhubaneswar at 7:30 p.m. the previous evening. Most passengers, including Odisha Congress MLA Mangu Khila from the Chitrakonda assembly segment in Malkangiri district, were asleep at the time. The driver noticed a loss of power, stopped the bus, and upon discovering the fire, alerted everyone and organized an evacuation.

Khila, who was among the passengers, credited the driver's response for preventing a disaster. "The bus caught fire when all the passengers, including me, were in deep sleep. The driver's presence of mind saved all," he told reporters. Khila assisted in the rescue, prioritizing women and children, and noted that passengers remained disciplined during the exit. He sustained minor muscle strains in his shoulder and back while helping others, but...