At least five people were killed in a horrific road accident after a speeding truck rammed into a luxury sleeper bus in Chitradurga district early Thursday, December 25. The impact triggered a massive fire, engulfing the bus in flames and leaving charred bodies and scattered debris across the highway. The bus, carrying 32 passengers, was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna when the tragedy occurred.
According to East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda, the truck jumped the road divider and collided head-on with the bus, hitting its diesel tank and causing fuel leakage followed by an intense blaze. Four passengers and the truck driver were killed, while several others were trapped as the bus caught fire within moments. The bus driver and cleaner managed to escape, while some passengers survived by jumping out of the vehicle.
Twelve passengers were injured in the accident and shifted to hospitals in Sira and Tumakuru, with one critically injured victim referred to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. Due to the severity of burns, police said DNA tests may be required to identify some victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased, while Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared ₹5 lakh compensation for each victim’s family and ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
