At least 10 people died after a private bus collided with a truck on National Highway 48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district. The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday. Police said most of the victims were burnt alive after the bus caught fire on impact.
The bus was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna with 32 passengers. The crash occurred near Gorlathu village in Hiriyur taluk. Officials said the truck jumped the road divider and rammed into the bus, triggering a massive blaze.
Several passengers managed to escape by jumping out. However, multiple bodies were found charred inside the vehicle. Nine passengers escaped without injuries, and others were taken to hospitals in Hiriyur, Chitradurga and Shira in Tumakuru district. Two passengers sustained grievous injuries.
The bus driver and cleaner survived. The truck driver and cleaner were among those killed. Authorities carried out rescue and clearance operations to remove the burnt bus from the highway. A separate bus with 45 schoolchildren narrowly avoided the crash after its driver swerved in time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a detailed probe into the incident.
The tragedy highlights the urgent need for stricter highway safety enforcement. Experts believe stronger action against reckless driving, better monitoring and improved emergency response systems are essential to prevent similar incidents.
