Hyderabad, Oct 30 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy Wednesday ordered probe into the bus mishap in Mahabaubnagar district which claimed over 40 lives.

The chief minister directed the district collector and superintendent of police to conduct a thorough probe and submit a report.

Kiran Reddy expressed his shock and anguish over the mishap and directed officials to provide all the help to the injured and the families of the victims.

A private bus coming from Bangalore to Hyderabad caught fire near Palem in the state's Mahabubnagar district. The bus was carrying 49 passengers. All except seven passengers, including the driver and cleaner, have died in the mishap.

Transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana said compensation would be paid to the families of the victims.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N.Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of other political parties have also expressed shock over the accident and conveyed their sympathies to the kin of the victims.

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