A tragic accident unfolded around 1 am on Thursday near Madakaripura bypass on NH-48, close to Chitradurga city, when a speeding private bus collided with a motorcycle, killing the rider instantly and triggering a fire that engulfed the bus.
The deceased has been identified as Ramesh (45), a resident of Bachaboranahatti. According to preliminary reports, the high-speed impact between the motorcycle and the bus’s front bumper created sparks that quickly ignited the vehicle. The bus was on its route from Hosapete to Bengaluru when the incident occurred.
In a fortunate turn amid the tragedy, all 40 passengers aboard the bus managed to escape unharmed. Swift evacuation helped avert a larger disaster. However, Ramesh’s body was dragged along the road, sustaining severe damage, making identification difficult.
Firefighters rushed to the scene, but the bus was already completely gutted by the time the flames were doused. Passengers continued their journey in alternate vehicles arranged soon after.
Chitradurga SP Ranjith Kumar Bandaru visited the spot and monitored the situation. A case has been registered at the Chitradurga Rural Police Station, and investigations are underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash, particularly in the low-visibility conditions of the early hours.