A major tragedy was averted in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning after an Odisha Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus caught fire near Roddavalasa in Parvatipuram Manyam district. Fortunately, all five passengers on board escaped safely.
The incident took place around 7:45 a.m. when the bus, travelling from Visakhapatnam to Jeypore in Odisha, suddenly began emitting smoke from its engine. Acting swiftly, the driver stopped the vehicle and helped passengers alight moments before flames engulfed the entire bus.
Firefighters rushed to the spot, but by the time they arrived, the bus had already been completely gutted. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Women and Child Development and Tribal Welfare, Gummadi Sandhya Rani, has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident and asked officials to submit a report.
This fire incident adds to a worrying trend of recent road accidents across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. On October 24, 19 people were killed when a private bus caught fire near Kurnool after hitting a motorbike. More recently, on November 3, a Telangana RTC bus collided with a truck in Rangareddy district, leaving 19 dead and over 20 injured.
Authorities have expressed concern over the increasing number of fatal bus accidents across the Telugu states in recent weeks.

Passengers escape unhurt as Odisha RTC bus burns near Roddavalasa in Parvatipuram district

Odisha RTC Bus Catches Fire in Andhra Pradesh

Passengers escape unhurt as Odisha RTC bus burns near Roddavalasa in Parvatipuram district

November 6, 2025 | 11:30 IST