At least 10 people were killed and more than 25 injured in a horrific road accident on National Highway-48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district early on December 25, after a sleeper bus caught fire following a head-on collision with a fuel tanker.
The accident occurred around 3 am near Gorlathu Cross in Hiriyur taluk, when the private bus was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga with about 32 passengers onboard. According to police, the fuel tanker coming from the opposite direction jumped the central median and slammed into the bus.
The impact ruptured the bus’s fuel tank, causing a massive fire within seconds. The sleeper coach was quickly engulfed in flames, trapping many passengers inside. Several victims were charred to death before rescue teams could reach the spot. The tanker driver also died in the collision.
Survivors said the fire spread rapidly, giving passengers little time to escape. Some managed to break windows and jump out despite sustaining burns. The injured were shifted to government and private hospitals in Hiriyur, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru. At least 10 injured passengers are reported to be critical.
Fire and emergency services rushed to the scene, but the intensity of the blaze made rescue operations extremely challenging. Local residents assisted in pulling survivors out before the bus was completely destroyed. Traffic on the busy Bengaluru–Pune stretch of NH-48 was halted for several hours.
Senior police officials visited the site and ordered a detailed investigation. Preliminary findings point to overspeeding or loss of control by the tanker driver, though officials said the exact cause will be confirmed after technical inspection.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over night-time highway safety and the movement of fuel tankers. The state government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased and injured.
Rescue and identification efforts are ongoing.
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