The driver of the Bengaluru-bound private bus that went up in flames in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Friday, killing 20 people, escaped the fire by jumping through the passenger door before realising the gravity of the situation, police said on Saturday.

Miriyala Lakshmaiah, 42, and an additional driver are now in police custody. A case of negligence and overspeeding has been registered against him at Ulindakonda police station under Sections 125(a) (endangering human life) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accident occurred late Friday near Chinnatekuru village when the ill-fated bus, owned by V Kaveri Travels, collided with a motorcycle. The two-wheeler's open fuel cap triggered a massive fire as it got dragged under the bus.

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