This is seriously messed up – Christmas morning turning into a total nightmare on NH-48 near Hiriyur in Chitradurga, Karnataka. Around 3-4 AM, a private luxury sleeper bus from Bengaluru heading to Gokarna (or Shivamogga in some reports) got slammed by a container truck that jumped the median. The impact hit the fuel tank, and boom – the whole bus went up in flames like instantly.
Death Toll Still Climbing, Many Charred Beyond Recognition
Reports are all over the place right now, but most say at least 9 to 12 people dead, mostly burnt alive because they were asleep in those berths and couldn’t get out fast enough. Some outlets are saying over 10 feared, a few even higher like 17 or 20 as rescue goes on and bodies are recovered from the charred wreck. Around 20-25 injured with bad burns, shifted to hospitals in Hiriyur, Chitradurga, and nearby. The bus had about 32 passengers, including driver and cleaner who managed to jump out.
A school bus behind saw it all – the driver tried pulling people out and saved a few before it got too dangerous. Lucky the kids on that bus were okay after a small bump.
What Survivors Are Saying?
The bus driver said he saw the truck coming straight at them, no time to react, flames everywhere in seconds. People screaming, breaking windows to escape… absolute horror. Police think the truck guy might’ve dozed off or lost control.
CM Siddaramaiah called it very heartbreaking incident on a festival day, announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia to each deceased’s family and ₹50,000 for injured, plus a full investigation. PM Modi said he’s deeply saddened with the cause, giving ₹2 lakh from PMNRF to kin and ₹50,000 to injured. President Murmu, DK Shivakumar, everyone sending condolences and prayers.
These pics from the site are tough – the bus is just a twisted, blackened shell on the highway, traffic backed up forever. Happens too damn often with night buses, tired drivers, crappy dividers. Makes you rethink traveling like that. My thoughts with the families losing loved ones on Christmas – hope the injured pull through strong and authorities actually fix this highway mess.
Sources: The Hindu, NDTV, Times of India, Indian Express, PTI, Economic Times
