- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:18 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka Bus Fire: At least 10 people were killed while over 20 others sustained severe burn injuries after a private bus collided with a lorry and caught fire near Gorlathu village in Karnataka's Chitradurga district. The accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday on national highway-48 when the passengers were asleep. The death toll is expected to rise.
VIDEO | Chitradurga, Karnataka: Over 10 people are feared dead in a lorry-bus collision on National Highway 48 near Gorlathu village in Hiriyur taluk.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 25, 2025
The bus, travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga, caught fire following the crash. Nine passengers reportedly escaped unhurt,… pic.twitter.com/dj75qIiIws
The bus was on the way to Shivamogga from Bengaluru and it belonged to a private service named Seabird. The bus was hit by the lorry coming from the other side after it reportedly jumped a divider.
32 passengers were on the bus at the time of the incident. Nine passengers escaped unhurt, while the injured were shifted to Hiriyur and Chitradurga hospitals, PTI reported. Locals posted multiple videos on social media following the fatal accident.
PM Modi Extends Condolences
"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," PMO posted on X.
#WATCH | Karnataka | An accident took place between a lorry and a private bus near Gorlathu village in Chitradurga district on National Highway 48. More details awaited
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025
(Visuals from the spot) pic.twitter.com/r38wVVJ77r
In a similar incident in October, 19 people were charred to death after a Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus met with an accident and burst into flames near the Chinna Tekur village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool. It was a Volvo bus that was going to Bengaluru in Karnataka from Hyderabad around midnight.
The accident occurred between 3 and 3:10 am when the bus collided with a bike, causing a fuel leak that led to the fire, said Kurnool District Collector Dr A Siri. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased's next of kin, expressing sorrow over the Kurnool bus tragedy. PM also announced Rs 50,000 for the injured.