43 passengers charred to death as bus catches fire in AP

Mahabubnagar: At least 43 passengers were burnt alive and five others critically injured when a private bus carrying them caught fire at Kothakota mandal here early today.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The tragic incident occurred when the bus en toute Hyderabad from Bangalore caught fire after hitting a culvert near Palem in the district around 0510 hrs, police said.