Karnataka Chitradurga Bus Fire: Major Tragedy — Private Sleeper Coach Catches Fire; 20 Passengers Burned Alive; What Exactly Happened on the Highway?

Chitradurga Bus Accident | A horrific accident occurred early this morning at around 3:00 AM on National Highway 48 near Goralath Cross in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, where a private sleeper coach caught fire following a collision. According to sources, at least 20 passengers were burned alive in the blaze. By 8:00 AM, police and fire brigade personnel had recovered nine bodies from the charred bus, while several others sustained critical injuries.

As per preliminary information, a truck was traveling from Hiriyur towards Bengaluru, while the sleeper coach was heading from Bengaluru to Gokarna. Near Hiriyur, the truck reportedly jumped the divider and crashed head-on into the sleeper coach.

Following the collision, the sleeper coach caught fire in the middle of the highway. Initial investigations suggest negligence on the part of the truck driver. The driver, identified as Kuldeep, also died in the accident.

29 Passengers on Board the Sleeper Coach

The sleeper coach was carrying 29 passengers—15 women and 14 men. The bus had a total seating capacity of 32. Out of the passengers, 25 were traveling to Gokarna, two were from Kumta, and two from Shivamogga. When the bus caught fire, the driver, conductor, and a few others managed to save their lives by jumping out of the vehicle.

Superintendent of Police Ranjit visited the accident site and reviewed the investigation. A case has been registered at Hiriyur Rural Police Station. Following the incident, traffic on the highway was severely disrupted, resulting in a traffic jam stretching nearly 30 kilometers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Reaction

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) expressed grief over the incident through a tweet, stating, “Deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

The PMO also announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF): ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Condolences from Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow, stating that the news of passengers being burned alive was extremely painful, especially as many were traveling home for Christmas holidays. He assured a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also expressed shock and grief over the tragedy, extending his sympathies to the families of the deceased and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.