Karnataka bus accident death toll rises to seven, investigation underway

The death toll in the devastating road accident in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district rose to seven on Friday after the bus driver succumbed to his injuries, police said.

The accident occurred around 2 a.m. on Thursday near Javangondanahalli village on National Highway-48 , close to Gorlathu , when a container truck coming from Hiriyur crossed the road divider and rammed into a private non-AC sleeper bus travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna via Shivamogga , officials said.

The collision triggered a massive fire, engulfing both vehicles within minutes. Five passengers travelling in the bus and the truck driver, identified as Kuldeep Yadav from Haryana, died on the spot after being trapped in the blaze.

The bus driver, Mohammed Rafique, who suffered critical injuries, was rushed to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, he died on Friday morning, taking the death toll to seven.

The deceased bus passengers were identified as Bindu, her daughter Greya (5), Manasa, Navya, and Rashmi Mahale, police said.

Police said 28 passengers were injured and are undergoing treatment at government hospitals in Hiriyur, Sira and Tumakuru, and a private hospital in Sira. The condition of three injured passengers is serious, and they have been shifted to Bengaluru for advanced treatment.

Inspector General of Police (Eastern Zone) Ravikanthe Gowda said preliminary findings indicated that the speeding truck may have hit the diesel tank of the bus, causing the fire to spread rapidly. He said five bodies were found inside the bus, while the truck driver’s body was recovered from the container vehicle.

Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith Kumar Bandaru said forensic teams had reached the accident site and that DNA samples would be collected if identification of charred bodies became difficult. A case has been registered at Hiriyur Rural police station, and further investigation is underway.

Fire and emergency services rushed to the spot, but both vehicles were already engulfed in flames. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire brigade personnel later retrieved the charred bodies from the bus.

In a related incident, 42 schoolchildren travelling in a bus moving parallel to the sleeper coach had a narrow escape. The children, from T Dasarahalli , were en route to Dandeli when the accident occurred. The school bus driver swiftly steered the vehicle away from the flames and parked it safely, preventing injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, and said a thorough investigation would be conducted.