At least 10 killed as bus goes into flames after hitting truck in Karnataka; PM expresses condolences

A devastating road accident on National Highway 48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district claimed at least 10 lives in the early hours of Thursday, December 25. A private sleeper bus, operated by Seabird Coach, was traveling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga with 32 people on board when it was struck by a speeding truck near Hiriyur. The collision occurred around 2:30 am when the truck reportedly jumped the road divider and rammed directly into the bus’s diesel tank.

The impact caused the fuel to gush out, turning the vehicle into a blazing inferno within moments. Most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the crash, making escape nearly impossible as flames spread rapidly through the sleeper coach. Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda confirmed that many victims were trapped inside and burned alive. The truck driver also died on the spot, while the bus driver and cleaner managed a narrow escape.

Survivors recounted a scene of pure horror as the bus doors jammed after the impact. Passengers had to break window glasses in a desperate attempt to flee the smoke and fire. One survivor, Aditya, shared how people tried to save others, but the intensity of the blaze made rescue efforts futile. Local residents and emergency services rushed to the spot, but the bus was completely gutted before the fire could be brought under control.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have expressed deep grief over the tragedy, which occurred as many were traveling home for the Christmas holidays. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. A thorough investigation has been ordered to determine if driver fatigue or overspeeding caused the truck to veer across the divider.