‘I saw the truck barrel towards us…’: Karnataka bus driver who lived to tell the tale after deadly crash

Karnataka bus tragedy

• Nine killed as truck crashes into sleeper bus near Hiriyur, Karnataka
• Bus driver avoided speeding truck, but collision caused huge fire.
• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah orders thorough probe into Chitradurga accident

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The driver of the private sleeper bus involved in the deadly crash near Hiriyur on Thursday said he tried desperately to control the vehicle after spotting an overspeeding truck barreling towards him from the opposite direction, but the impact was unavoidable.

The accident occurred around 2 am, when the speeding truck rammed into the luxury sleeper bus, triggering a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle within minutes. At least nine people lost their lives in the incident, a senior police official said.

Despite efforts by the driver to steer clear of the oncoming truck, the collision proved fatal, with flames spreading rapidly after the crash and trapping several passengers inside the bus.

"The truck came from the other side of the road divider and hit. 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, after that I don't know what happened and how I was brought out," Rafiq, the bus driver who is undergoing treatment, told reporters.

He said, "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)." Mohammed Sadiq, the cleaner of the bus who is also undergoing treatment with minor injuries, said he was thrown out of the bus due to the impact.

"The truck that was coming from the opposite direction directly rammed the diesel tank. I was in the front of the bus and was asleep when the accident occurred. Due to the impact of the accident, I was thrown out, breaking the glass of the bus," he said.

Proper investigation will be conducted to find out cause, says CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that a proper investigation will be conducted into the Chitradurga bus accident in which at least nine people were killed.

"My heart shook hearing the news of the horrific accident between a lorry (container truck) and a bus near Chitradurga in which many passengers were burnt alive. It is regrettable that the journey of those who were going home for the Christmas holidays ended in such a tragedy," Siddaramaiah posted on 'X'.