17 feared dead after bus catches fire in India’s Karnataka

A horrific road accident on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga in India’s Karnataka has left at least 17 people feared dead after a private sleeper coach bus caught fire following a collision with a lorry.

The incident occurred at Gorlathu Cross in Hiriyur taluk during the early hours of today, according to police officials.

The private sleeper bus, which was travelling on a long-distance route, reportedly collided with a lorry under circumstances that are still being investigated. Following the impact, the bus burst into flames, rapidly engulfing the vehicle and trapping several passengers inside. Many occupants were asleep at the time of the crash, reducing their chances of escaping before the fire spread.

Police, fire and emergency services rushed to the spot after receiving distress calls. Firefighters battled the blaze while rescue teams worked to pull out survivors and recover bodies from the charred remains of the bus. Several passengers sustained serious burn injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga, where some are said to be in critical condition.

Authorities said the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue and injured passengers remain under treatment.

The tragedy has once again highlighted 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 loss of life on India’s highways.

- Agencies