Truck hits sleeper bus in Karnataka, nine killed, victims burnt in fire

At least nine people were killed when a speeding truck collided with a luxury sleeper bus in Karnataka on Thursday morning, December 25, causing a massive fire in the vehicle, police said.

Eastern Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikant Gowda told reporters that the Gokarna-bound bus carrying 32 passengers caught fire after the collision and most of the passengers inside were burnt alive.

According to the police, the accident occurred when the truck jumped the road divider and collided with the bus coming from the front. While the bus driver and the cleaner managed to escape, the truck driver and his cleaner were also among those killed.

Immediately after the collision, many passengers managed to save themselves by jumping out of the bus. The injured were taken to a hospital in Shira in Tumakuru district, officials said, adding that at least two passengers suffered serious injuries.

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T The second bus going from Dasarahalli to Dandeli, carrying 45 school children, narrowly escaped the accident as it was running at the rear. “Thankfully, the driver of the bus carrying the school children moved to the other side of the road and no one was injured,” Gowda said.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.