Six killed in Karnataka bus crash; PM Modi, CM Siddaramaiah express grief

Bengaluru: At least six people were killed and about 21 injured when a sleeper bus bound for the temple town of Gokarna in coastal Karnataka collided with a container truck on National Highway 48 in Chitradurga district and caught fire in the early morning of Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed shock and grief over the death of people in the accident.

Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the PM's National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. Siddaramaiah announced Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. The CM also ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the mishap.


"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," Modi said in a post on X.

Preliminary reports said the truck driver lost control and collided with the bus after he jumped the road divider. While the driver of the Haryana-registered truck died in the collision, the driver and conductor of the bus survived.