A tragic road accident in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district turned fatal in the early hours of Thursday when a private sleeper bus was engulfed in flames after a collision with a container lorry on National Highway-48. The incident occurred near Gorlathu village, claiming the lives of more than ten passengers and leaving several others injured.

The bus, operated by a private travel service, was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga with 32 people on board, including the driver and conductor. According to preliminary information, a lorry travelling in the opposite direction reportedly lost control, crossed the median, and rammed into the bus. The impact led to an immediate fire, trapping many passengers inside the vehicle.

Emergency responders and local police rushed to the spot, but the intensity of the blaze made rescue efforts extremely challenging. Several injured passengers were shifted to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga, where they are undergoing treatment. Officials have indicated that the death toll could rise as some victims remain in critical condition.

Senior police officials, including the Range Inspector General of Police and the district Superintendent of Police, visited the accident site to supervise rescue operations and assess the situation. Early findings suggest that driver fatigue may have played a role, with investigators suspecting that the lorry driver may have dozed off before the vehicle veered across the divider.

The lorry driver was killed on the spot, while a number of bus passengers managed to escape with injuries. Survivors recounted moments of panic as the bus caught fire within seconds of the collision, leaving little time to react.

The incident has sparked renewed concerns over night-time highway safety and the movement of heavy vehicles on busy national highways. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to fix responsibility and prevent similar tragedies in the future.