Deadly NH-48 Crash in Chitradurga: Sleeper Bus Erupts in Flames After Collision, 10 Killed

Delhi: A devastating road accident in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district claimed at least 10 lives after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a violent collision with a truck in the early hours of Thursday. The tragedy unfolded around 2:30 am on National Highway-48, sending shockwaves across the state.

The bus was on a long overnight journey from Bengaluru to Shivamogga, carrying over 30 passengers, when a speeding truck travelling in the opposite direction reportedly lost control, crossed the median, and rammed into the bus. The impact was so severe that the bus was immediately engulfed in flames, leaving many passengers with little chance to escape.

Senior police officials said initial findings suggest that the truck struck a critical part of the bus, possibly the fuel tank, causing fuel to leak and ignite within seconds. While a handful of passengers managed to break free and flee the burning vehicle, several others were trapped inside as the fire spread rapidly.

Authorities confirmed that the deceased include multiple bus passengers as well as the truck driver. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but by the time firefighters managed to control the blaze, the bus had been completely gutted.

The bus, operated by a private travel company, was carrying passengers to different destinations, including coastal Karnataka. The accident led to heavy traffic congestion on the highway for several hours, with commuters and long-distance travellers stranded. One woman heading towards Gokarna reported being stuck in a prolonged traffic jam due to the aftermath of the crash.