Karnataka Highway Horror: Over 20 Burnt Alive as Bengaluru-Shivamogga Sleeper Bus Catches Fire in Chitradurga

A devastating road tragedy unfolded in Karnataka in the early hours of Thursday when a private sleeper bus caught fire after a head-on collision with a truck on National Highway 48, leaving several passengers dead and many others critically injured.

The horrific accident took place around 3 am near Gorlath Cross in Hiriyur Taluk. According to preliminary information, a truck travelling from Hiriyur towards Bengaluru jumped the road divider and rammed into a sleeper coach that was on its way from Bengaluru to the coastal town of Gokarna. The impact was so intense that the bus immediately caught fire and was engulfed in flames in the middle of the highway.

Emergency teams rushed to the spot, but the blaze made rescue operations extremely difficult. Police and fire department officials managed to retrieve nine charred bodies from the bus by around 8 am. However, sources indicated that more than 20 passengers were burned alive in the incident. Several survivors sustained serious burn injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, where their condition is said to be critical.

The truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, died in the crash. Initial investigations suggest negligence on the part of the truck driver, though officials said a detailed probe is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

The sleeper coach was carrying 29 passengers at the time of the mishap, despite having a seating capacity of 32. Of those onboard, 15 were women and 14 were men. Most passengers 25 in number were residents of Gokarna, while two each hailed from Kumta and Shivamogga. The bus driver, conductor, and a few passengers narrowly escaped death by jumping out of the vehicle moments after the collision.




Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith visited the accident site to oversee rescue operations and supervise the investigation. A formal complaint has been registered at the Hiriyur Rural Police Station. The accident also triggered a massive traffic disruption, with vehicles stuck for nearly 30 kilometres and congestion reported up to Shiravara.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Prime Minister’s Office expressed grief over the loss of lives. In a tweet, the PMO said, "deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."




Meanwhile, in a separate road accident reported from Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, at least nine people were killed after a state-run bus lost control and rammed into two vehicles on a national highway. The bus, which was heading to Chennai from Tiruchirappalli, reportedly veered into the opposite lane after one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The bus climbed onto the median, crossed into oncoming traffic, and collided with a sports utility vehicle and a car travelling towards Tiruchirappalli. Police said seven of those killed were occupants of the two private vehicles, while the remaining victims were yet to be formally identified.

Four others, including two children, suffered serious injuries in the crash and are currently undergoing treatment at government hospitals. Authorities in both states have urged motorists to exercise caution, especially during night travel, as investigations into both accidents continue.