In Chitradurga district, Karnataka, a horrific accident claimed nine lives, including eight bus passengers. The bus driver, Rafeeq, recounted the tragedy from his hospital bed, recalling a speeding truck crashing into his bus. Despite his efforts to control the bus, it collided with another vehicle, leaving him with no memory of the events that followed.
Another survivor, bus assistant Mohammad Sadiq, shared that the bus departed Bengaluru with 30 passengers onboard. He was asleep when the truck struck the bus, causing a diesel tank explosion that ejected him and the driver from the vehicle.
Fortunately, 42 schoolchildren on an academic trip in a separate bus had a narrow escape. The school bus, hit by the burning sleeper coach, managed to swerve and halt safely, ensuring the children’s well-being without any injuries. Authorities swiftly arranged for the children to continue their journey after the incident.
Eyewitnesses praised the school bus driver for rescuing trapped passengers from the burning bus. Tragically, nine individuals lost their lives in the fire, while 21 others sustained injuries during the collision between the sleeper coach bus and a truck on National Highway 48.
