Quick Reads
- A container truck jumped the median on NH-48 in Chitradurga early on December 25 and crashed into a private sleeper bus, causing a fire.
- At least nine people died, and many were injured in the blaze.
- A separate private bus carrying 43 students was just behind the scenes.
- The driver, Sachin, braked hard and steered to safety, avoiding direct impact.
- None of the students was harmed.
- Sachin helped rescue passengers from the burning bus before the fire’s intensity forced him back.
- Police and locals have praised his quick judgment under pressure.
Chitradurga Crash: What Happened
In the early hours of December 25, a container truck lost control on National Highway-48 near Gorlathu village in Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga district. It jumped over the divider into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a private luxury sleeper bus heading towards Gokarna. The impact ruptured the bus’s fuel tank, and it burst into flames almost instantly.
Police and emergency teams reached the scene amid thick smoke and fire. Victims were pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospitals in nearby towns. At least nine people, including the truck driver, were confirmed dead, and dozens suffered injuries ranging from burns to fractures. Investigations suggest the truck’s sudden cross-median movement was a major cause of the collision.
How the School Bus Driver Averted Further Tragedy
Just moments after the collision ahead, Sachin, a 25-year-old driver from Holenarasipur in Hassan district, was driving a private bus with 43 pre-university students from a school in T. Dasarahalli, Bengaluru, bound for a study tour in Dandeli.
As the sleeper bus in front was hit and went up in flames, Sachin reacted instantly. He applied the brakes hard and steered sharply to avoid slamming into the burning wreck. His bus veered off and came to a safe stop near a roadside ditch. Though Sachin himself suffered a serious head injury in the process, none of the students were harmed.
After making sure his passengers were safe, he ran back toward the blaze and helped pull out at least seven people trapped in the burning sleeper coach before heat and smoke forced him back. Police have praised his calm presence of mind and quick decision-making under pressure.
Aftermath and Response
Residents and authorities lauded Sachin for his actions. Police have recorded his statement and are investigating the full sequence of events. Families of victims have been notified, and response teams continue support operations. State and national leaders have expressed condolences and ordered investigations into the causes and safety measures for highway travel.
