11 Killed as Truck Collides with Sleeper Bus in Karnataka’s Chitradurga, Vehicle Gutted by Fire
Shivamogga | December 25, 2025
At least 11 people were killed and several others injured in a devastating Karnataka bus accident after a container truck rammed into a luxury sleeper bus on National Highway 48 in the early hours of Thursday. The collision triggered a massive fire, engulfing the bus and leaving little chance of escape for several passengers who were asleep at the time of the crash.
The incident occurred near Hiriyur town in Chitradurga district, a key stretch on the Bengaluru–Pune–Mumbai highway corridor. The private sleeper bus was travelling from Bengaluru to the coastal town of Gokarna via Shivamogga when it was hit from behind by the truck, police officials said.
According to preliminary information, the impact caused the bus to burst into flames within minutes. While a few passengers managed to escape by jumping out of windows, others were trapped as the fire spread rapidly through the vehicle’s sleeper compartments.
How the Karnataka bus accident unfolded
Eyewitness accounts and initial police investigations suggest that the container truck jumped the road divider and lost control before colliding with the bus. The force of the crash ruptured the bus’s fuel system, leading to an intense blaze that quickly consumed the vehicle.
“The fire spread very fast. Some passengers managed to escape, but many could not as they were asleep,” a senior police officer at the scene said. The Karnataka bus accident took place around dawn, a time when visibility is often reduced and traffic movement includes long-haul commercial vehicles.
Local residents alerted emergency services after noticing flames and hearing distress calls. Fire tenders from nearby stations were rushed to the spot, and it took considerable time to douse the fire due to the intensity of the blaze. By the time rescue teams could fully access the bus, several passengers had already succumbed to burn injuries.
Rescue operations and medical response
Police personnel from Hiriyur, along with highway patrol units, cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue and prevent further accidents on the busy highway. The injured were shifted to government and private hospitals in Hiriyur, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru for treatment.
Senior police officers from Chitradurga and Tumakuru districts visited the accident site to oversee relief operations. Authorities confirmed that the bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examinations, and efforts were underway to identify victims and inform their families.
Traffic on National Highway 48 was temporarily disrupted following the Karnataka bus accident, with vehicles diverted to alternative routes until the damaged bus and truck were removed from the road.
Overspeeding suspected, probe ordered
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said initial reports pointed to overspeeding and negligence by the truck driver as the primary cause of the crash. “Prima facie, it appears that the truck driver was overspeeding and lost control after crossing the divider,” he told reporters.
The minister added that Transport Commissioner Yogeshwar and Assistant Transport Commissioner Omkareshwari had been directed to visit the site and conduct a spot inspection. A detailed report has been sought to determine whether there were violations of safety norms, including speed regulations and vehicle fitness standards.
Police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation into the Karnataka bus accident. The truck driver is being questioned, and officials are examining CCTV footage from nearby toll plazas and highway cameras to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Renewed focus on highway safety
The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over road safety on major national highways in Karnataka, particularly stretches that see heavy movement of long-distance buses and container trucks during night and early morning hours.
Road safety experts have repeatedly flagged issues such as driver fatigue, overspeeding, and inadequate enforcement of traffic rules as contributing factors in fatal accidents. The Karnataka bus accident near Hiriyur adds to a growing list of serious crashes reported on NH-48 over the past year.
Authorities said additional safety checks and patrols may be intensified along accident-prone zones once the investigation is complete.
As families of the victims mourn their loss, officials have assured strict action if negligence is established. The state government is also expected to review existing safety measures to prevent a recurrence of such a devastating Karnataka bus accident on one of the state’s busiest highways.
