Karnataka Highway Horror: 10 Killed as Sleeper Bus Bursts Into Flames After Collision With Truck on NH-48
Karnataka Highway Horror: 10 Killed as Sleeper Bus Bursts Into Flames After Collision With Truck on NH-48
Early Thursday, chaos erupted on National Highway 48 near Gorlath Cross in Hiriyur Taluk when a private sleeper bus traveling from Bengaluru to Gokarna collided with a truck and caught fire. The horrific accident claimed the lives of at least 10 passengers, while several others were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals. The crash occurred around 3 a.m., and by 8 a.m., rescue teams had recovered multiple bodies from the wreckage. Injured passengers received immediate medical attention at a local hospital.
Preliminary reports suggest that the truck, traveling from Hiriyur to Bengaluru, crossed the divider and struck the bus, causing it to ignite instantly. Authorities indicated that negligence by the truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, who also died in the accident, may have contributed to the tragedy.
The bus carried 29 passengers, including 15 women and 14 men. Most passengers were from Gokarna, with a few from Kumta and Shivamogga. The bus driver, conductor, and some passengers managed to escape by jumping out before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The collision caused heavy traffic congestion along NH 48, stretching nearly 30 kilometers up to Shiravara. SP Ranjith visited the site to supervise the rescue and investigation, and a complaint has been registered at Hiriyur Rural Police Station.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) expressed condolences to the families of the victims and announced compensation of Rs. 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the accident as “heartbreaking” and called for a detailed investigation into its causes. He expressed his sympathies to the families affected, noting that the tragedy was especially devastating as many passengers were traveling to their villages for the holiday season. Officials continue to investigate the sequence of events that led to this catastrophic collision, which is being regarded as one of the deadliest road accidents in Karnataka in recent years.
