At least 10 people lost their lives after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a truck on National Highway-48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district. The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday when the bus was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga.
According to police, the incident occurred around 2:30 am when a truck coming from the opposite direction reportedly jumped the divider and rammed into the bus. The impact triggered a massive fire, leaving several passengers trapped inside the vehicle.
A senior police officer said preliminary findings suggest the truck may have struck the fuel tank of the bus, causing diesel to gush out and ignite. While a few passengers managed to escape, eight bus passengers and the truck driver were confirmed dead.
Bus carrying 32 people gutted in blaze
The sleeper bus, operated by a private travel company, had 32 people on board, including the driver and conductor. Eyewitnesses said the flames spread rapidly, giving passengers little time to react.
A commuter who was travelling on the same stretch of road said the bus had overtaken his vehicle moments before the crash. He added that the truck crossed the divider and hit the bus near the diesel tank area, leading to the fire.
One of the surviving passengers recalled scenes of panic inside the bus. He said people were screaming as the fire broke out, the doors could not be opened, and some passengers broke the window glass to escape. Despite efforts to rescue others, the spreading flames made it extremely difficult.
Traffic disruption and reactions from leaders
The accident caused heavy traffic congestion on the highway, with commuters stranded for several hours as emergency services worked to clear the site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those who died and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar also expressed grief over the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The state BJP president shared similar sentiments, offering condolences to the bereaved families.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.