At Least 10 Passengers Killed as Bus Erupts in Flames After Horrific Collision

A horrific road accident in southern India turned deadly Wednesday after a passenger bus slammed into a truck and burst into flames, killing at least 10 people and leaving families mourning just days before Christmas.

Officials said the crash happened near Gorlathu village in the Chitradurga region of Karnataka, when a bus traveling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga was hit head-on by a truck that reportedly crossed the road divider into oncoming traffic.

The impact was catastrophic. Authorities said the bus caught fire almost immediately, trapping several passengers inside as flames tore through the vehicle.

Many of those onboard were believed to be heading to coastal destinations like Gokarna or returning home to celebrate the Christmas holidays.

Police said some passengers managed to jump from the bus in the seconds after the crash, but others were unable to escape and were burned alive.

Senior police officer Ravikanthe Gowda said the bus was carrying 32 passengers at the time of the collision. At least nine people escaped without injuries. The bus driver and his assistant survived, while the truck driver and a cleaner were among those killed.

“We broke the glass and tried to escape. People were screaming,” said a survivor identified only as Aditya. “Some tried to save others, but the fire spread very fast, making it impossible.”

Rescue teams worked for hours to extinguish the flames and clear the charred wreckage from the highway, causing major traffic disruptions in the area. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as recovery efforts continued.

In a chilling near-miss, a second bus carrying around 45 schoolchildren was traveling just behind the doomed vehicle. Police said the driver swerved in time to avoid the crash, preventing what could have been an even greater tragedy.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims’ families, calling the incident deeply saddening. He announced financial assistance for the families of those killed, as well as compensation for the injured, through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the crash as heartbreaking.

“It is tragic that the journey of those heading home for Christmas has ended this way,” he said, adding that a full investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the collision.