A horrific pre-dawn collision between a fuel tanker and a private sleeper coach on National Highway 48 in Karnataka's Chitradurga district has resulted in a catastrophic fire, claiming the lives of more than twenty people. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday near Gorlath Cross in Hiriyur taluk.
The Collision and Immediate Aftermath
According to police reports to ANI, the sequence of events began when the driver of a fuel tanker truck lost control, jumped the road divider, and slammed directly into the bus. The impact was so severe it caused the sleeper coach to burst into flames almost instantly, trapping numerous passengers inside the burning vehicle. The accident took place around 3 am, engulfing the bus in a fierce blaze in the middle of the highway.
Police and fire service teams rushed to the spot and launched a challenging rescue operation. Sources confirmed that over 20 passengers were burned alive inside the bus. By 8 am, rescue personnel had managed to retrieve nine bodies from the charred remains of the coach. Several injured passengers were extricated and shifted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Investigation Points to Driver Negligence
Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that negligence on the part of the tanker driver was the likely cause. The truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, also perished in the crash. In a stroke of fortune, the bus driver, the conductor, and a few alert passengers managed to escape with their lives by jumping out of the vehicle moments after the collision.
Providing further details, Inspector General of Police BR Ravikante Gowda told ANI that a school bus traveling parallel to the sleeper coach also collided with the burning vehicle. Miraculously, all 48 students on board the school bus escaped unhurt. The school bus driver is now a key eyewitness to the entire tragic event.
Passenger Details and Official Response
Police stated that the ill-fated sleeper coach was carrying 29 passengers—15 women and 14 men—against a seating capacity of 32. Most of the passengers, 25, were from Gokarna, with two each hailing from Kumta and Shivamogga.
Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith visited the accident site to personally supervise the rescue and investigation work. A formal case has been registered at the Hiriyur Rural police station.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) reacted to the tragedy on social media. In a tweet, it expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the bereaved families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person.
The massive accident caused severe disruption on the crucial NH-48, leading to a traffic jam that stretched for nearly 30 kilometers up to Shiravara.
