In a major development in the Kurnool bus fire case that claimed 20 lives, including bike rider Shiva Shankar, police have uncovered the full sequence of events after questioning eyewitness Erri Swami, also known as Tony. The incident, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Friday, involved a Kaveri Travels bus catching fire after colliding with a fallen bike on the highway.
According to the police, Erri Swami had met Shiva Shankar after returning from Hyderabad. The duo consumed alcohol at a local spot in the Chourasta area before heading to Lakshmipuram, where Erri Swami stayed. Later, he asked Shiva to drop him at the Kurnool new bus stand so he could attend a wedding in Rampuram village of Tuggali mandal. On their way, near Chinnatekur, the bike hit a road divider and both men fell. While Shiva sustained fatal injuries, Erri Swami escaped with minor wounds.
Erri Swami told police that he dragged Shiva’s body to the roadside and tried to move the damaged bike. An RTC bus narrowly avoided hitting them, but moments later, a speeding Kaveri Travels bus struck the fallen bike. The vehicle dragged the bike for some distance before stopping, and while the bus drivers attempted to remove it, flames suddenly erupted from underneath. Within moments, the bus was engulfed in fire, killing 19 passengers on board. Shocked by the scene, Erri Swami fled, taking Shiva’s phone and escaping the spot.
Police traced Erri Swami through CCTV footage showing him with Shiva at a petrol station before the accident. He was later located and detained in Rampuram village by DSP Ramayya and CI Madhu. After receiving treatment for minor injuries, he was shifted to Kurnool for further questioning. His testimony has helped investigators establish that the initial bike collision triggered the catastrophic bus fire, which has left the state in deep shock.