‘Tried To Control Bus, But Couldn’t’: Driver Recounts Fatal Karnataka Highway Crash

‘Tried To Control Bus, But Couldn’t’: Driver Recounts Fatal Karnataka Highway Crash Nine people died after a luxury bus caught fire on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga, Karnataka, following a collision with a speeding truck. At least nine people died in a tragic highway accident in Karnataka early Thursday morning after a luxury private bus caught fire on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga district. The incident occurred around 2 am when a speeding truck rammed into the bus, trapping passengers who were asleep at the time. Rafiq, the bus driver, who is currently recovering in a hospital, said the truck came from the opposite direction and struck the divider before colliding with the bus. His aide said the impact of the collision was on the bus’s fuel tank, triggering the blaze. Recommended Stories “It was overspeeding. I was maintaining the speed of 60-70 (km/hr) at that time. I saw the vehicle coming from the front. I know only the vehicle (truck) hitting the bus," Rafiq told reporters, according to a report in NDTV . The driver said he tried to regain control but was unsuccessful. “I tried to control the bus on seeing the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. My bus even touched the other vehicle, which was moving next to us; I don’t know what vehicle it was. But couldn’t (control)," he added. Rafiq said he did not remember what happened afterward or how he was rescued. The collision took place near Hiriyur while the bus was on a 300-km journey from Bengaluru to Shivamogga. Most passengers were asleep until the crash jolted them awake. Mohammed Sadiq, the cleaner, said the truck hit the bus’s diesel tank. Sleeping at the front of the bus, he was thrown out due to the impact, breaking through the glass. He was undergoing treatment following the crash. A senior official indicated a fuel leak may have caused the fire. “A few passengers managed to escape the fire," said Inspector General of Police Ravikant Gowda, the report stated. A survivor, identified as Aditya, recalled the horror, saying, “People were screaming. There was fire all around." He said the door jammed, forcing passengers to break windows to escape. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed the incident “heartbreaking" and ordered a detailed probe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened" and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Follow News18 on Google . Join the fun, play games on News18 . Download the News18 App to stay updated! Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Preview: ~439 words