Mumbai: Following the horrific bus accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool, which claimed 20 lives, actor Sonu Sood has urged Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to act promptly and step up passenger safety.
Emphasising on no compromise with passenger safety, Sood requested Gadkari to make manual emergency doors mandatory on luxury buses, which can be used as emergency exit when the electronic doors fail.
Taking to his X handle on Saturday, Sood wrote, “Every luxury bus must have a manual emergency door — not just electronic ones that can fail in critical moments. For passenger safety, this should be made mandatory by law. Operators must upload proof with pictures before renewing permits. Give 1 month for compliance. @nitin_gadkari @MORTHIndia please act now sir — no compromise on passenger safety! 🚌⚠️”
Every luxury bus must have a manual emergency door — not just electronic ones that can fail in critical moments. For passenger safety, this should be made mandatory by law. Operators must upload proof with pictures before renewing permits. Give 1 month for compliance.…
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) October 25, 2025
Actor Vishnu Manchu and his father, veteran actor-producer Mohan Babu, extended their condolences to the families of the victims.
Vishnu wrote on X, “Deeply disturbed by the tragic bus accident on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway. So many innocent lives lost in such a horrific manner. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Prayers for the injured and strength to those grieving.”
Reacting to the sad news, Mohan Babu shared, “Absolutely heart-wrenching to hear about the bus tragedy on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway. So many lives lost in moments. Words fall short in times like this. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon, and may God give strength to all those in grief.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to social media to express grief and announce an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000,” Modi wrote on X.
The Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus, operated by V. Kaveri Travels, was carrying about 44 passengers, when it collided with a two-wheeler and caught fire in the early hours of Friday on National Highway-44 at Chinnatekur near Kurnool.
