Hyderabad: A day after a horrific bus fire in Andhra Pradesh claimed 20 lives, Telangana transport authorities launched a crackdown on private buses entering Hyderabad, conducting widespread inspections and seizing one vehicle for multiple violations.

According to officials, checks were carried out on Saturday morning across entry points to the city, resulting in the generation of 54 Vehicle Check Reports (VCRs). A bus operating in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district was seized after inspectors found several breaches, including the absence of a fire extinguisher, non-payment of tax, and transporting merchandise goods, a senior transport official said.

Nearly 500 inter-state private buses operate out of Hyderabad each day, connecting Telangana with neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the official added.

The inspections came a day after the September 24 tragedy in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, where 19 passengers and a motorcyclist were charred to death when a speeding private bus collided with a two-wheeler at Chinnatekuru village and caught fire. Of the 44 people on board, several managed to escape the blaze.

Following the incident, Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced plans to hold a joint meeting with his counterparts from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to devise preventive measures and ensure better safety standards for inter-state travel.

He has also warned private bus operators of stringent action for negligence in vehicle maintenance or failure to comply with safety and fitness regulations, emphasising that they must strictly follow road safety norms and avoid overspeeding—an issue often linked with private bus operations in the region.

With inputs from PTI