At least 10 people were killed and several others injured after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a truck in the early hours of Thursday in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, officials said.
The accident occurred near Gorlathu village in Hiriyur taluk on National Highway 48. The bus, which was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga, burst into flames almost immediately after the impact, leaving it completely gutted.
The fire spread rapidly, trapping several passengers inside and severely hampering rescue efforts. Emergency services were alerted soon after the crash, and police, fire brigade personnel and medical teams rushed to the scene to carry out rescue and relief operations.
#WATCH | Karnataka | An accident took place between a lorry and a private bus near Gorlathu village in Chitradurga district on National Highway 48. Multiple dead bodies seen at the spot. Rescue operations underway. More details awaited
(Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/1pcOboCYGq
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025
Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith Kumar Bandaru and Inspector General of Police B R Ravikanthe Gowda, along with other senior officials, visited the site to oversee the response.
#WATCH | Karnataka | An accident took place between a lorry and a private bus near Gorlathu village in Chitradurga district on National Highway 48. More details awaited
(Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/r38wVVJ77r
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025
Officials warned that the death toll could rise, as several passengers sustained critical burn injuries. “The number of fatalities is likely to rise,” an official said, adding that search and rescue operations were still continuing.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Police said the truck crossed the central divider and crashed head-on into the bus. The truck driver died on the spot.
There were 32 passengers on board the bus at the time of the accident. Police said 21 injured passengers have been admitted to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga, where they are receiving treatment. Authorities are also verifying passenger details and checking whether anyone remains unaccounted for.
“The injured were rushed to the nearest hospitals for immediate medical attention,” a police official said, confirming that relief work was ongoing.
Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire and are examining whether it was triggered by fuel leakage or the force of the collision. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.
Further details awaited.
(With IANS inputs)
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