10 feared dead as sleeper bus catches fire after collision with truck in Karnataka

At least ten people were burned alive after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a truck in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district in the early hours of Thursday. The tragic accident occurred around 2:30 am on National Highway-48 (NH-48).

The bus, operated by Seabird Coach, was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga, covering a distance of over 300 km, when a truck coming from the opposite direction reportedly jumped the divider and rammed into it. Police said the impact likely ruptured the bus’s fuel tank, causing fuel to gush out and triggering a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.

Officials' statement

“A lorry jumped the divider and hit the bus early Thursday morning. Preliminary investigation suggests the fuel tank was damaged, leading to a rapid fire. Eight passengers and the truck driver have been confirmed dead so far,” a police official said.

The bus had around 32 people on board, including the driver and conductor. While a few passengers managed to escape by breaking window panes, many were trapped inside as flames spread rapidly.

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Eyewitness Sachin said the truck hit the bus near the diesel tank area, while survivor Aditya recalled hearing screams as passengers struggled to escape. Rescue operations were launched immediately, and an investigation is underway.