Chitradurga (Udaipur Kiran): At least 10 people were feared dead after a sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a lorry in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district late on Wednesday night. Some media reports have put the death toll between 12 and 17. The tragic accident occurred on NH-48 in Hiriyur taluk, near Gorlathu.
The private sleeper bus of Seabird Transport was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna and had more than 30 passengers on board at the time of the incident. According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place around 2.30 am when a speeding lorry broke through the road divider and rammed into the bus coming from the opposite direction.
Soon after the collision, the bus caught fire. Most passengers were asleep at the time, leaving them with little chance to escape as the flames spread rapidly through the vehicle.
Police said that most of the passengers had booked their tickets online, which has helped authorities obtain contact details. Efforts are underway to inform family members of the victims. Due to the condition of the bodies, DNA tests will be conducted to establish the identities of those who died in the fire.
Further investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
