Bengaluru IT body urges probe after Kurnool bus blaze kills 20
Bengaluru (PTI): The Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association (GBITCIA) urged government agencies and stakeholders to conduct a thorough investigation into the bus accident in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, that left 20 people dead.
The association called for urgent action by transport authorities and service providers to ensure the highest safety standards for all intercity commuters, particularly those connected to the technology sector.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time," GBITCIA said in a statement.
Citing initial information, the association said 36 of the passengers were connected to the IT corridor, highlighting the tragedy’s profound impact on the technology ecosystem.
"It is deeply distressing to learn that two software engineers are among those who have lost their lives," it added.
Urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future, GBITCIA said, "We remain committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected families and supporting coordination between our member companies, local administration, and emergency services."
"We join the community in remembering the lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to advocacy for safer travel and working environments for all IT professionals along the corridor," the statement added.
On Friday, a Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in Kurnool district after colliding with a two-wheeler. The blaze was reportedly triggered when the motorcycle, with its fuel cap open, was dragged under the bus, killing 20 people.
Most of the victims were charred beyond recognition, police said. The dead included two children and the biker, while nine others sustained injuries.
The bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the accident.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
