Nine dead as truck slams into sleeper bus in Karnataka, fire traps passengers

Chitradurga: Nine people were killed in a horrific road accident in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district early Thursday after a speeding truck rammed into a luxury sleeper bus, triggering a massive fire, police said.

The bus, carrying 32 passengers and headed to the coastal town of Gokarna, burst into flames following the impact. Most of the victims were trapped inside and were burnt to death, East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda told reporters.

According to the police, the crash occurred when the truck jumped the road divider and crashed head-on into the oncoming bus. While the bus driver and cleaner managed to escape, the truck driver and his cleaner were among those killed.

Several passengers saved themselves by jumping out of the bus moments after the collision. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Shira town of Tumakuru district, where at least two are said to be in critical condition.

In a narrow escape, another bus travelling from T Dasarahalli to Dandeli with 45 school children on board, which was following the ill-fated vehicle, avoided the crash. “Fortunately, the driver swerved to the other side of the road in time and none of the children were hurt,” Gowda said.

Police have begun an investigation into the cause of the accident.

(with inputs from agencies)