India, Oct. 25 -- A Bengaluru-bound private bus caught fire in Kurnool district on Friday after colliding with a two-wheeler, leaving 20 people dead.

Most victims were charred beyond recognition, the local police said. The dead included two children and the biker, while nine persons suffered injuries.

Condolences poured in, with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers N Chandrababu Naidu and A Revanth Reddy expressing anguish over the early morning incident. The Union, the Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana Governments have announced ex-gratia compensation.

The ill-fated bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the accident. Passengers broke window ...