In the aftermath of a devastating Andhra Pradesh bus fire that killed 20 individuals, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. S. Sajjanar has drawn a stark parallel, labeling drunk drivers as ‘terrorists.’ He issued a powerful warning that offenders who jeopardize public safety through impaired driving will be met with uncompromising legal action.
The commissioner’s remarks followed a fatal collision between a private sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru and a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, who was allegedly intoxicated, had a prior mishap before colliding with the bus. This catastrophic event led to the death of the biker and 19 individuals on board the bus. Sajjanar underscored the biker’s intoxication as the direct cause of the accident.
He powerfully articulated that such actions constitute ‘acts of terror on our roads’ and are a ‘criminal act of negligence.’ Sajjanar wrote on X that the Kurnool bus tragedy was not an accident but a ‘preventable massacre’ caused by the irresponsible behavior of an intoxicated rider. He lamented how this criminal negligence annihilated families instantaneously.
Security camera footage captured the motorcyclist, Shiva Shankar, refueling his bike mere minutes before the fatal 2:39 a.m. collision. The commissioner emphasized that the rider’s choice to drive while drunk escalated a moment of recklessness into an unfathomable tragedy. Sajjanar reiterated that drunk drivers destroy lives and futures, and the Hyderabad Police enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy. He vowed that anyone caught driving under the influence would face the maximum penalty, stressing that drink-driving is a criminal act, not an error to be forgiven.
A case has been registered against the deceased motorcyclist for reckless driving. His pillion rider survived with minor injuries. Both men reportedly consumed alcohol prior to the incident. The catastrophic fire on the bus was likely intensified by exploding lithium-ion batteries from a cargo of smartphones. The collision with the motorcycle caused a fuel leak, which ignited, triggering the blaze. The bus driver and co-driver are now in police custody facing charges related to negligence and speeding.