12 charred to death, 20 face burn injury as private bus catches fire in Karnataka

At least 12 people were charred to death, and over 20 others suffered burn injuries after a private bus caught on fire near Hiriyur in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district on Thursday.

According to the initial reports obtained by CNN-News18, the bus was involved in a collision with a container vehicle, which triggered a massive fire.

The fire started to spread rapidly, leaving several passengers trapped inside. According to CNN-News18, the bus belonged to a private entity called Sea Bird. As per the report, there were 32 passengers onboard at the time of the crash.

The authorities reached the location as soon as the news of the fire came out, and 20 wounded people were rushed to nearby hospitals. Officials noted that the burn injuries are so severe that the death toll is feared to increase.

This is Horrible 💔

A tragic accident occurred involving a #Bengaluru – #Goa AC bus and a lorry near #Hiriyuru on the NH highway at around 1:00 AM on 25 December 2025.
Lorry misjudged the road and crossed the divider, leading to a severe collision. The AC bus was completely… pic.twitter.com/SGnnS67Ar2

— Ballari Tweetz (@TweetzBallari) December 25, 2025

Videos circulating online showed locals trying to control the fire as a massive blaze took over the site of the accident. Rescue and relief operations were immediately launched, with local authorities and emergency services rushing to the spot.

The cause of the fire is yet to be certified, and further details are awaited as the investigation continues.

This is a developing story.