At least 10 people were killed and several critically injured in a road accident in Chitradurga district in Karnataka. The crash took place when a lorry, heading towards Bengaluru from Hiriyur, veered across the road's central divider and collided head-on with a luxury sleeper bus travelling in the opposite lane, and caught fire.
The accident took place on National Highway 48 at Gorlathu Cross in Hiriyur taluk.
The bus, which was carrying 32 passengers, was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga when the collision happened. The impact caused the bus to catch fire on the highway, trapping several passengers inside. The bus driver and cleaner escaped, while the driver of the truck and its cleaner are among the dead.
Most of the victims were burnt alive inside the vehicle, East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda told PTI.
Authorities have said that the final number of casualties will be confirmed after a detailed probe. The survivors who managed to escape the burning bus sustained serious injuries and were quickly taken to a local hospital.
Initial police investigations suggest that the accident may have been caused by a tyre burst. The intense fire completely destroyed the bus, making rescue operations difficult.
Superintendent of Police for Chitradurga Ranjith visited the accident site to oversee the investigation. A formal case has been filed at the Hiriyur Rural Police Station as officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the collision.
The accident caused major traffic delays on the busy National Highway 48 for several hours. Emergency teams are working to clear the wreckage and conduct rescue and recovery missions at the site.