6 killed as bus catches fire after collision with truck in Karnataka

“We suspect that the container hit the fuel tank of the bus, which led to the fire,” he added.

According to the police, the truck with Haryana registration number was heading towards Bengaluru when it hit the divider and crossed over to the other side of the road and crashed into the bus.

As the bodies are charred beyond recognition, the forensic experts have collected the DNA samples for identification.

The police have registered a case under sections 281, 125 (a), 106 (1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated a probe.

Meanwhile, Sachin, the driver of another bus in which 42 school children were travelling, said they narrowly escaped being hit by the container truck that rammed into the tourist bus.

As the bus caught fire, Sachin emerged as an unlikely hero—steering his vehicle to safety despite a head injury, and then pulled seven passengers out of the burning vehicle before an explosion made further rescue impossible.

Speaking to the media, Sachin said: “The container truck came and hit the middle portion of the bus. It hit the diesel tank. I tried to control my vehicle and managed to steer it to the left and stop it. The front glass broke, but nobody was injured in my vehicle,” he said.

“I was injured on my head due to the glass, but I managed to pull some people out through the bus window,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the loss of lives in the accident. “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,” his statement on the PMO’s X handle read.

An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the PM said.