Karnataka highway tragedy: 5 dead as Bengaluru-Gokarna bus catches fire in Chitradurga

BENGALURU: At least five people were charred to death and over 20 others sustained serious injuries after a private bus caught fire following a collision with a container truck on National Highway-48 near the HP petrol pump at Javanagondanahalli around midnight on Thursday.

Seven others suffered minor injuries in the accident.

The bus, which was travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna, collided with a container truck heading towards Bengaluru, allegedly due to the truck driver’s negligence. Following the impact, the bus burst into flames, killing four passengers on the spot along with the container truck driver.

Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Bandaru confirmed that four bodies were recovered from the gutted bus, while the truck driver was also found charred to death. Police said DNA tests would be conducted to identify the victims.

Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Ravikanthe Gowda visited the accident site, while SP Bandaru supervised the investigation. Teams from Suco, the Forensic Science Laboratory, and other departments inspected the spot and collected samples.



The bus driver, two staff members, and several passengers managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle before it was engulfed by flames.

The bus had 29 passengers—15 women and 14 men—against a seating capacity of 32. Of them, 25 were from Gokarna, two from Kumta, and two from Shivamogga.

The injured were shifted to hospitals in Chitradurga, Sira, Hiriyur, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru for treatment.

Videos showing passengers fleeing the burning bus went viral on social media, with survivors seen seeking help on the highway. The accident caused a massive traffic jam on NH-48, with vehicles stranded for nearly 30 km up to the Shiravara police station.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Chitradurga district of Karnataka. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posted on X: “Hearing the tragic news of several passengers being burned alive in the horrific accident between a lorry and a bus near Chitradurga has left hearts trembling. It is heartbreaking that the journey of those heading out for Christmas has ended in such a tragedy. A thorough investigation should be conducted to uncover the cause. An ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from CMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000.”


Deeply saddened: PM Modi

Reacting to the incident, PMO in a tweet said, "deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May those injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."

Siddaramaiah orders probe

In a post on 'X', Siddaramaiah said, "hearing the tragic news of several passengers being burned alive in the horrific accident between a lorry and a bus near Chitradurga has left hearts trembling. It is heartbreaking that the journey of those heading to their villages for Christmas holidays ended in such a tragedy. A thorough investigation should be conducted regarding the accident to uncover the cause. I pray that the souls of the deceased find peace. I too share in the grief of the families who lost their loved ones in the accident."

Tamil Nadu Accident

In a separate incident, 9 people were killed on Wednesday after a state-run bus swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with two vehicles on a national highway in Tamil Nadu, police said.

The Chennai-bound bus from Tiruchirappalli reportedly changed direction after one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The bus climbed onto the road median and crossed into the opposite lane before hitting a sports utility vehicle and a car travelling towards Tiruchirappalli.

Seven of those killed were occupants of the two private vehicles, police said. The remaining victims were yet to be formally identified.

Four others, including two children, sustained serious injuries and are being treated at government hospitals.