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.

Delhi has withdrawn the strictest set of air pollution control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) after a noticeable improvement in air quality across the region. The decision was taken by the GRAP sub-committee following a review meeting, where officials noted better atmospheric conditions aiding dispersion of pollutants.

According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, strong winds and favourable meteorological factors led to a sharp improvement in air quality from Tuesday night onwards. As a result, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 271 on Wednesday, placing it in the ‘poor’ category.

GRAP-4 had been imposed after AQI levels crossed the 450 mark, categorised as ‘severe-plus’, prompting emergency restrictions across sectors. With the situation easing, authorities have now rolled back the highest level of curbs, while confirming that actions under GRAP-1, GRAP-2 and GRAP-3 will remain in force.

What changes for commuters and schools

With the lifting of GRAP-4, older vehicles that were barred from operating during the peak pollution phase are now allowed back on Delhi roads. The earlier restriction permitting entry of only Bharat Stage (BS) 6 vehicles into the capital had affected nearly 1.2 million vehicles registered outside Delhi.

The Delhi government had also directed schools to run classes up to Class 11 in hybrid mode during the severe pollution phase. With the easing of restrictions, schools can now reassess operational decisions in line with the prevailing GRAP stages.

However, officials cautioned that the relief may be temporary. Forecasts by meteorological agencies indicate a possible rise in AQI levels in the coming days due to slower wind speeds. Authorities said they remain prepared to reintroduce stricter measures if pollution levels spike again.

Vehicle norms and ongoing curbs

Under the existing framework, GRAP-1 measures apply when AQI is between 201 and 300, GRAP-2 between 301 and 400, and GRAP-3 between 401 and 450. While GRAP-4 has been lifted, enforcement of emission-related norms continues.

Officials reiterated that vehicles without a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps. The government has maintained that vehicular emissions remain one of the biggest contributors to Delhi’s winter air pollution, accounting for a significant share of particulate matter in busy traffic corridors.

The Unnao rape case survivor and her mother met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday evening as they continue their protest against the Delhi High Court’s recent relief to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been convicted in the case. The meeting took place at the 10 Janpath residence of Sonia Gandhi, where she was also present.

The survivor and her mother have been demonstrating in Delhi after the court granted interim relief to Sengar, allowing him to remain out of jail while his appeal against conviction and sentence is pending. The development has triggered strong political reactions, with opposition parties questioning the message it sends to survivors of sexual violence.

Allegations of mistreatment during protest

Earlier in the day, the survivor’s mother was allegedly manhandled by Central paramilitary personnel during the protest. According to the account shared by the family, security personnel stopped the mother and daughter from speaking to the media and forced the elderly woman to jump off a moving bus.

The duo had been protesting at India Gate along with their lawyer-activist Yogita Bhayana following the court order. They were later detained. On Tuesday morning, they planned to address the media at Mandi House, but the vehicle arranged to transport them did not stop at the intended location. The CRPF later stated that permission to hold a protest had not been granted.

Rahul Gandhi questions treatment of survivor

Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi posted on X questioning whether the survivor was being mistreated for raising her voice against injustice. In his post, he asked if such treatment of a gang rape survivor was justified and criticised what he described as a justice system that grants bail to convicts while treating survivors like criminals.

The survivor, who was sexually assaulted by Sengar in 2017, has said she also wants to meet the Prime Minister to place her concerns directly before him. The case and the latest court decision continue to draw national attention, reigniting debate over survivor safety and access to justice.