13 Dead in Markapuram: CM Naidu Orders Probe After Bus-Truck Collision
A horrific collision near Markapuram left 13 dead and 25 injured, sparking state-wide shock and prompting urgent government action to address road safety.
Key Takeaways
- A bus-truck collision near Rayavaram in Markapuram district killed 13 and injured 25 passengers.
- CM Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to provide medical care and announced compensation for families.
- Control rooms established in Nellore and Markapuram to coordinate relief and identify victims from multiple districts.
- The incident adds to a worrying trend of Andhra Pradesh bus fire and road accident fatalities.
- State statistics show over 8,200 fatal accidents in 2025, prompting calls for stricter road safety regulations.
The early hours of Thursday, March 26, 2026, turned into a scene of devastation near Rayavaram in the Markapuram district of Andhra Pradesh. A private bus belonging to Harikrishna Travels, traveling from Nirmal in Telangana to Nellore, collided with a tipper, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed both vehicles. Preliminary reports confirm that 13 people died on the spot, while 25 others were injured, with 10 suffering severe injuries and five in critical condition.
Following the incident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed deep anguish and shock. He immediately held a teleconference with senior officials and ministers, directing them to extend the best possible medical care to the injured and to provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased. Naidu ordered a thorough investigation into the accident, offering his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assuring full support from the State government. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed his deep sorrow and instructed his Chief Secretary to coordinate with Andhra Pradesh officials regarding the victims.
Authorities are currently working to verify the cause of the crash. The bus driver reportedly stated that the steering wheel got stuck, and officials are in the process of verifying this claim. A preliminary assessment suggests that the bus moved into the opposite lane before the collision occurred. The accident site, near Rayavaram in the Markapuram district of Prakasam district, has become a focal point for emergency response and relief efforts.
In the immediate aftermath, the bus fire tragedy has sent shockwaves across the state. As the bus was destined for Vinjamur, the majority of the passengers hailed from SPSR Nellore district. Of the 13 deceased, six are from Prakasam district, six from Vinjamur mandal in Nellore district, and one from Udhayagiri Mandal, Nellore district. The Collector of Nellore, Himanshu Shukla, confirmed that about 15 passengers in the bus hailed from Nellore district. To assist the families, a control room was set up at the Collectorate in Nellore, and another at the Markapuram RDO office in Ongole. The District In-charge Collector, P. Raja Babu, emphasized that the control rooms were established to inform families of passenger details.
