At least nine people died and over 20 were injured after a Bengaluru–Gokarna sleeper bus collided with a container truck and caught fire in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.
At least nine individuals killed in a fire after a private sleeper bus collided with a container truck on Thursday in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka. The bus was en route from Bengaluru to Gokarna when it collided head-on with a container truck and quickly caught fire, according to the police.
The police suspect driver fatigue as a cause while driving. “The truck soared over the barrier and collided with the bus.”
The driver of the truck has died. A total of 32 persons have been on board the bus which also suffered from the collision in addition to the injuries reported. The police have reported there are currently 21 persons who have been injured and are being treated in hospitals. There is also an active investigation in place to determine if other passengers sustained injuries.
As a result of the collision, the bus was ignited resulting in the bus being destroyed by the fire. The fire killed at least 9 passengers inside the bus and caused injury to several other passengers who were taken to government hospitals located in Hiriyur and Chitradurga for treatment after the accident.
One of the survivors from the bus, Aditya, stated that the bus had departed from Bengaluru at 11:30 pm, and the crash occurred approximately at 2 am. “I fell down and broke out of a window, and was able to get out. While I was getting out, people were calling for help, but the fire had basically covered the bus,” he said.
In a different, but similar incident, on Wednesday, nine individuals have died when a government bus has travelled into the opposite lane and collided with two other vehicles. As per the police report, the bus apparently lost control due to a burst tyre. Four other persons, including 2 children, have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at government hospitals.
