9 Burnt Alive in Chitradurga Bus Inferno
Truck jumps divider on NH-48, sleeper coach turns into fire trap at 2:30 am
- Private sleeper bus rammed by container truck on NH-48
- Diesel tank hit, flames engulfed bus within minutes
- Eight passengers and truck driver killed on the spot
- PM announces ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for each victim’s family
GG News Bureau
Chitradurga, 25th Dec: At least nine people were burnt alive after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a violent collision with a container truck in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district early Thursday.
The accident occurred around 2:30 am on National Highway-48 when the Bengaluru–Shivamogga bound Seabird Coach sleeper bus was hit by a truck that jumped the road divider and rammed into the coach.
Police said the truck struck the area near the diesel tank, causing fuel to gush out and ignite within seconds. The bus, carrying 32 people including the driver and conductor, was engulfed in flames, trapping passengers inside.
Inspector General of Police Ravikant Gowda confirmed that eight passengers and the truck driver died on the spot. “The fire spread rapidly. Some passengers managed to escape by breaking window panes, but many could not come out in time,” he said.
Eyewitness Sachin said the bus had overtaken his vehicle moments before the crash. “A container truck suddenly crossed the divider and smashed into the bus near the fuel tank. Flames erupted almost instantly,” he said.
Survivor Aditya described the horror inside the burning coach. “There was fire everywhere. Doors wouldn’t open. We broke the glass and jumped out. People were screaming and trying to save others, but the flames spread too fast,” he said.
The crash triggered a massive traffic jam on NH-48, leaving vehicles stranded for nearly three hours as emergency teams cleared the debris.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia assistance of ₹2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over highway safety and the movement of heavy vehicles on national highways.
