Karnataka: Bengaluru-Shivamogga sleeper bus catches fire after lorry collision in Chitradurga, over 10 killed including truck driver

Bengaluru bus accident
Bengaluru–Shivamogga sleeper bus fire leaves 9 dead (Image via The Hindu)

A sleeper bus travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga collided with a lorry and caught fire, resulting in the death of over 10 people in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. This incident happened during the early hours of Thursday (25th December), when the lorry, which came from Hiriyur, rammed into the sleeper bus, triggering a massive fire that left passengers trapped inside with almost no time to escape. The incident ccurred on the National Highway-48 (NH-48) at around 2:30 am.

Over 10 people travelling inside the bus lost their lives, while the driver of the lorry also died, according to the police. Other people received burns and took refuge in nearby hospitals. Although people claim most of those injured are out of danger, one person from Shira, who had 15-20 per cent burns, is now being treated at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru.

Explaining the sequence of events, Eastern Range Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda said the initial investigation points to a direct impact on the bus’s diesel tank. “Our investigation so far shows that the lorry hit the diesel tank of the bus, which caused fuel to leak and catch fire. This led to the deaths of eight passengers inside the bus and the truck driver,” he said.

Police confirmed that there were 32 passengers on board the bus at the time of the accident. Of the injured, 12 are currently undergoing treatment in Hiriyur, nine in Shira, and three have been admitted to a hospital in Tumkur. Except for the critically injured passenger who are shifted to Bengaluru, the rest are reported to be stable.

Initial reports indicate neglect by the lorry driver, said officials. The police are now gathering DNA samples of the deceased and analysing tickets and check-in information to verify the identities. Additionally, officials said a school bus full of children passed through the area during the same time, though fortunately, no school-going children were injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed Condolences and announced relief package. In a post on X, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) wrote, “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: PM Narendra Modi”

Series of recent deadly bus accidents

Just last week on 16th December, a massive multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna expressway near the city of Agra resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people and leaving a minimum of 75 injured in the crash caused by the extreme fog in the area with the seven buses and three cars bursting into flames due to the impact and claiming the lives of some of the victimes who succumbed to burn-related injuries. 

Earlier this month, on 12th December, 9 pilgrims were killed and 27 others injured when a private bus fell into a gorge on the Tulasipaka ghat road in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Police said the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve in the early hours, causing the vehicle to plunge into a valley.

On October 23rd, a terrible fire accident occurred on National Highway 44 near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, which took at least 25 lives after a sleeper bus clashed with a motorcycle and caught fire in a matter of minutes.

Days before this event on 14th October, a bus fire in Rajasthan resulted in the deaths of 22 people due to a jammed emergency door, near Jaisalmer.

Written by Shriti Sagar
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