Chitradurga: At least 17 people were killed in a Karnataka road accident after a lorry collided head-on with a private sleeper bus in Chitradurga district early on Thursday, police said.
The accident occurred around 2:00 am near Gorlatta village within the limits of Hiriyur police station. The sleeper bus, operated by a private travel agency, was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna with 32 passengers on board at the time of the collision.
According to the police, the lorry was moving from Hiriyur towards Bengaluru when it crossed the road divider and entered the wrong lane. As a result, it crashed directly into the oncoming bus. The impact triggered a massive fire, causing both the bus and the lorry to go up in flames within minutes.
Several passengers were trapped inside the sleeper bus and could not escape as the fire spread rapidly. Police said many victims were burnt alive due to the intensity of the blaze. Emergency responders later found both vehicles completely gutted at the scene.
Local residents alerted authorities after noticing the fire. Fire and rescue teams rushed to the spot and began dousing the flames. However, by the time the fire was brought under control, heavy damage had already occurred.
Karnataka road accident under investigation by police
Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith visited the accident site and inspected the scene. He reviewed the position of the vehicles and directed officers to collect evidence to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.
Police registered a case at Hiriyur police station and launched an investigation into the incident. Officials said they would examine factors such as vehicle condition, driver error and compliance with safety norms. Statements from witnesses and survivors are also being recorded.
The injured passengers were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Doctors said some of them sustained serious burns and multiple injuries. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending confirmation and intimation to their families.
The Karnataka road accident has once again raised concerns over highway safety and night-time travel risks. Officials said further details would emerge as the investigation progresses.
