Tragic Highway Fire: 9 Charred to Death as Sleeper Bus Collides with Truck in Chitradurga

CHITRADURGA – A horrific road accident on National Highway 48 has claimed the lives of at least nine people after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a head-on collision with a truck at Gorlathu Cross early Thursday morning.

The bus, operated by Seabird Tourists, was transporting over 30 passengers from Bengaluru to the coastal town of Gokarna. The tragedy struck when a truck traveling in the opposite direction jumped the road divider and crashed into the bus, triggering a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes.

A Night of Horror

The impact of the collision was so severe that the fire spread almost instantly, trapping many passengers inside their sleeping berths.

• The Toll: Nine people were killed on the spot, their bodies charred beyond recognition.
• The Survivors: 21 passengers sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals in Chitradurga and surrounding areas for emergency treatment.
• The Rescue: Emergency services and local police spent several hours extracting the remains of the victims from the skeletal remains of the burnt-out bus.

Government Announces Ex-Gratia

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his profound grief over the incident and announced immediate financial assistance for the victims.

“In the horrific accident that occurred at Chitradurga, compensation of Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the families of those who died and Rs 50,000 each to those injured,” the CM stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences via social media, announcing an additional ‘ex gratia’ support of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s Relief Fund. President Droupadi Murmu also joined in mourning the loss, praying for the swift recovery of the survivors.

Safety Norms Under Scrutiny

The speed at which the bus was reduced to ashes has sparked a fresh debate over safety regulations for sleeper vehicles. While a formal investigation is underway, the incident highlights critical gaps in:

• Highway Infrastructure: The ease with which the truck crossed the divider.
• Vehicle Safety: The lack of fire-retardant materials and accessible emergency exits in private sleeper coaches.
• Traffic Enforcement: The need for stricter implementation of speed and lane discipline on national highways.

Officials have been instructed to remain on standby to assist the grieving families as the identification process for the deceased continues.