At least nine people were killed and 21 others injured after a private sleeper coach bus caught fire following a collision with a container truck on National Highway 48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district early on Christmas Day, police said.
The accident occurred around 2 am at Gorlattu Cross, when a truck coming from the opposite direction lost control, jumped the divider and rammed into the bus, triggering a massive fire. The bus was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna.
According to police, the impact led to fuel leakage after the truck hit the bus’s fuel tank, causing the vehicle to be engulfed in flames within minutes.
Truck hit fuel tank, fire spread rapidly: IGP
Inspector General of Police (East) BR Ravikanthe Gowda said preliminary investigations indicate that the truck struck the fuel tank directly.
“What we suspect is that the truck directly hit the fuel tank of the bus. Following fuel leakage, the bus caught fire and was completely engulfed,” Gowda said, adding that eight bus passengers and the truck driver died in the incident.
Several passengers managed to escape by jumping out after the collision. However, eight passengers who were asleep inside the sleeper coach got trapped, police said. The truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, a native of Uttar Pradesh, also died on the spot.
In total, 32 persons, including the driver and assistant, were travelling in the bus. The bus driver and assistant escaped unhurt.
Injured shifted to multiple hospitals; one critical
Among the injured, 11 were admitted to a hospital in Hiriyur, nine to Sira, and three to Tumakuru. One passenger with 15–20 per cent burn injuries was shifted to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, while the others are stated to be out of danger, Gowda said.
Police also said information is emerging about the spotting of a burnt body of a baby, and confirmation will follow after identification procedures.
PM announces ex-gratia; DNA teams deployed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000.
DNA experts from Bengaluru and local Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) teams have reached the spot. Police said bodies will be retrieved from the burnt bus, post-mortem examinations will be conducted, and DNA samples will be collected for identification before handing over the remains to families.
Karnataka CM, Deputy CM express grief over loss of lives
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy, and other leaders condoled the deaths. The Karnataka CM said that a probe will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
“Hearing the horrifying news of the accident between a lorry and a bus near Chitradurga, in which several passengers were burned alive, was deeply distressing. Tragically, the journey of people travelling to their hometowns during the Christmas holidays ended in such a disaster.”
“A thorough investigation into the accident will be conducted to ascertain the cause. I pray for peace for the departed souls and share in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones in the accident,” the CM said.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar stated, “I am deeply shocked to learn about the accident near Hiriyur involving a bus travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna and a truck, in which several people were burnt alive. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish the injured a speedy recovery. I hope such tragedies do not recur.”
Traffic disruption and near-miss with school bus
The accident caused traffic disruption for several hours on the Bengaluru–Sira stretch of NH-48.
Authorities also said a bus carrying school children on an academic tour, which was travelling behind the affected bus, narrowly escaped the accident. Statements of eyewitnesses are being recorded.
Police have attributed the crash to the negligence of the truck driver. Further investigation is underway.