Bengaluru, Dec 25: Five persons were charred to death, while four others were injured in a wee hours collision between a sleeper coach bus and a container truck on Highway 48 near Hiriyur in Chitradurga district.
Victims Identified, Others Await Confirmation
The deceased include the driver and cleaner of the truck and three passengers in the bus. While one of the passengers was identified as Manasa from Channarayapattana in Hassan district, the identity of two others is yet to be ascertained.
Bus Catches Fire After Truck Crosses Divider
The incident took place at around 2 am, when the sleeper coach belonging to Seabird bus company was heading towards Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district from Bengaluru.
When the bus was crossing Hiriyur, the truck coming from the opposite side crossed over the road divider and hit the bus from the side. The bus driver, Rafique, realising that the truck was going to hit the bus, tried to avoid it, but within no time, the bus was in flames.
Passengers Escape Through Windows, Bystanders Help Rescue
Since the bus was non-AC, most of the passengers jumped out of the bus through the windows. Besides, since the fire started from the right side of the bus, people travelling in other vehicles on the highway opened the left side door and rescued many people.
Confusion Over Casualties After Accident
There were 34 passengers in the bus, including the driver and the conductor. After the accident, they could find only 25 people and presumed that nine persons had died. However, later it was revealed that six passengers, who had escaped, boarded available vehicles and continued their journey.
Ex-Gratia Announced by PM and CM
While the Prime Minister has announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased and ₹50,000 compensation for the injured, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased and ₹50,000 compensation for the injured.
School Bus with 60 Children Has Miraculous Escape
Meanwhile, about 60 children, who were travelling in a school bus behind the bus, had a miraculous escape due to the presence of mind of the driver.
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Driver’s Quick Action Saves Children
The children from a private school in Bengaluru were on the way to a school trip to Dandeli. School bus driver Sachin sensed the truck was jumping over the road divider and steered the vehicle to the extreme left, jumped over the ditch and landed the school bus on the service road. Though the windshield of the bus shattered, none of the children were injured.
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