Vemuri Kaveri Travels Owner Arrested After Kurnool Bus Tragedy
7 Nov, 2025 15:09 IST|Sakshi Post
Two weeks after the deadly bus accident in Kurnool district that claimed 19 lives, Vemuri Kaveri Travels owner Vemuri Vinod Kumar was arrested on Friday (November 7) and later released on bail.
As per the latest reports, Vinod Kumar was arrested and produced before a special mobile court.
On October 24, a Volvo sleeper bus operated by V Kaveri Travels collided with a motorcycle on NH-44 near Chinnatekur village in Kallur mandal, Kurnool district, while en route from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.
At the time of the incident, there were over 40 passengers and two drivers on board. With the doors jammed, passengers were forced to break windows to escape the flames.
Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Koya Praveen had revealed that the bike accident occurred moments before the bus collision.
He said the two bike-borne individuals — Siva Shankar and Erri Swamy — had left Lakshmipuram village around 2 am for Tuggali. They stopped for food at a dhaba and later refueled at an HP petrol bunk near the Kia showroom at 2:24 am. A video showing Shankar riding rashly at the fuel station went viral, raising suspicions of drunken driving.
Confirming these suspicions, the DIG said, “Forensic tests confirmed that the two bike-borne persons were drunk.” Swamy also admitted they had consumed alcohol.
After resuming their ride, the bike reportedly skidded and hit a divider, killing Shankar on the spot. Swamy, who suffered minor injuries, moved Shankar from the middle of the road. Before he could remove the bike, the speeding bus rammed into it, dragging it several meters. The fuel tank exploded, setting the bus ablaze.
After the initial investigation, police booked a case against bus driver Miryala Lakshmaiah as Accused 1 (A1) and Vinod Kumar as Accused 2 (A2). They were booked under Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 125(a) and 106(1) for causing death by rash or negligent act.
The bus was registered in Daman and Diu in 2018 and re-registered in Odisha this year. The bus travel operator had also altered the bus meant for seating to a sleeper coach in alleged violation of rules.
