11 killed in NH-48 accident in Karnataka

Bengaluru | Desk: More than 11 people were killed in a horrific road accident on National Highway 48 near Hiriyur in Chitradurga district of Karnataka early Thursday morning. The accident occurred when an out-of-control container truck crossed the road divider and collided head-on with a luxury sleeper bus coming from the opposite direction.

The impact was so severe that the bus, which was en route to Gokarna, immediately caught fire and was engulfed in flames. According to the police, most of the passengers on board the bus were trapped in the inferno and burned alive.

East Zone IGP Ravikanthe Gowda stated that there were a total of 32 passengers on the bus. The driver and cleaner of the truck also died in the accident, while the bus driver and cleaner managed to escape safely. Initial reports suggest the accident was caused by the negligence of the truck driver, who lost control of the speeding vehicle.

Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic incident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The Chief Minister directed officials to provide all possible assistance to the victims and ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident.

Three fire tenders from Sira, Hiriyur, and Chitradurga rushed to the spot for relief and rescue operations, and the fire was brought under control after about half an hour.

A team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) also participated in the rescue operation. According to Regional Fire Officer Nagesh, the process of recovering bodies and rescue operations continued until 8 am after the fire was extinguished.