Andhra bus tragedy: Both motorcyclists linked to accident were drunk, reveals probe

PTC News Desk: The Andhra Pradesh Police on Sunday confirmed that the two men on the motorcycle involved in the Bengaluru-bound bus fire accident, which killed 19 passengers, were under the influence of alcohol. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of October 24, when a sleeper bus ran over a motorcycle that had already crashed at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district.

The bus was carrying 44 passengers, several of whom managed to escape. The motorcycle was dragged under the bus, causing its fuel tank to burst and triggering a massive fire.

Kurnool Range DIG of Police Koya Praveen said, “We have received forensic confirmation that the two bike riders, Siva Shankar and Erri Swamy, were drunk.” Although police had suspected intoxication earlier, they waited for forensic verification before confirming it.

According to the DIG, the two men had stopped at a roadside dhaba for food, where Swamy admitted to having consumed alcohol. Police said Shankar and Swamy had left Lakshmipuram village around 2 a.m. to drop Swamy at Tuggali village in Kurnool district.

Kurnool SP Vikrant Patil added that the duo stopped at an HP petrol pump at 2:24 a.m. to refuel. A video from the petrol pump, which later went viral, showed Shankar riding the motorcycle recklessly. Shortly after resuming their journey, the bike skidded, causing Shankar to hit the road divider and die instantly.

Swamy reportedly pulled Shankar off the road after realizing he was dead. “While he was attempting to move the motorcycle aside, the bus arrived at high speed, ran over it, and dragged it for some distance,” SP Patil said.

Following the series of accidents and the resulting fire, a terrified Swamy fled to his native village of Tuggali. He was later located and questioned by police, who obtained key details about the sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.