10 Killed in Bus Fire After Crash on NH 48 in Karnataka

At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others suffered severe burn injuries when a private sleeper bus caught fire after colliding with a container truck on National Highway 48 near Hiriyur in Karnataka's Chitradurga district early Thursday morning.

The accident occurred around 2 a.m. as the bus, carrying 32 passengers from Bengaluru to Shivamogga, traveled overnight. Police reports indicate the truck veered across the central divider from the opposite lane and struck the bus head-on, igniting a rapid blaze that engulfed the vehicle while most passengers slept. The truck driver also died in the crash. Rescue teams, including police and firefighters, arrived quickly to extract survivors and douse the flames, but several people remained trapped inside the burning bus, contributing to the high casualty toll.

Authorities transported the injured to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga, where many remain in critical condition receiving treatment for burns and other trauma. Officials confirmed nine passengers escaped unhurt by jumping from the vehicle or breaking windows. One survivor, Aditya, recounted the chaos: "I fell down after the accident, broke the glass and managed to...