Nation

XKurnool (Andhra Pradesh): The driver of the ill-fated Bengaluru-bound bus which caught fire and killed 20 people on Friday here, had escaped the inferno by jumping out through the passenger door and failed to gauge the situation, a police official said on Saturday.

Currently, both the driver, Miriyala Lakshmaiah (42) and the additional driver are in police custody. A case was filed regarding the incident on Friday.

As many as 19 passengers travelling in the private bus and a motor bike rider were charred to death after it collided with the two-wheeler at Chinnatekuru village of Kurnool district.

There were 44 passengers in the bus and several managed to escape the fire.

"Once the fire started (and) the bus came to a halt, through the passenger door he (Lakshmaiah) jumped out.

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