Karnataka bus accident: The bus was on its way from Bengaluru to Shivamogga when the accident took place at National Highway 48 around 2:30 am.
Karnataka bus accident: At least five people (the exact toll still remains unconfirmed) were burned alive after a private sleeper bus burst into flames after being hit by a truck in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.
The bus was on its way from Bengaluru to Shivamogga when the accident took place at National Highway 48 around 2:30 am.
The blaze was triggered after a fuel tanker jumped the road divider and rammed into flames, reports said.
Most of the passengers were sleeping when the accident took place and were trapped inside the bus when the mishap took place.
The bus driver, conductor and a few passengers managed to escape by jumping out of the bus after the collision.
The truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, died in the crash. The cleaner also died in the mishap.
The truck came from the opposite direction and hit the divider, NDTV quoted Rafiq, the driver of the bus who is now recovering in a hospital, as saying.
“It was overspeeding. I was maintaining the speed of 60-70 (km/hr) at that time. I saw the vehicle coming from the front. I know only the vehicle (truck) hitting the bus,” the report said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the family members of the victims and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident.
“Hearing the tragic news of several passengers being burned alive in the horrific accident between a lorry and a bus near Chitradurga has left hearts trembling. It is heartbreaking that the journey of those heading to their villages for the Christmas holidays ended in such a tragedy,” he wrote on ‘X’.
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