A horrific road accident on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga, Karnataka, has left at least 17 people feared dead after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a lorry.
The incident occurred at Gorlathu Cross in Hiriyur taluk during the early hours of today, police officials said. The bus, traveling on a long-distance route, reportedly collided with the lorry under circumstances still under investigation. Following the impact, the bus burst into flames, rapidly engulfing the vehicle and trapping several passengers inside. Many occupants were asleep at the time, limiting their chances of escaping before the fire spread.
Police, fire, and emergency services rushed to the scene after distress calls. Firefighters battled the blaze while rescue teams worked to pull out survivors and recover bodies from the charred remains. Several passengers sustained serious burn injuries and were rushed to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga, with some reported in critical condition.
Authorities warned that the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue and injured passengers remain under treatment.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over night-travel safety, sleeper bus design, and emergency evacuation mechanisms. Officials have stressed the need for stricter enforcement of safety norms and improved emergency response systems to prevent such devastating incidents on India’s highways.
