Rafiq, the bus driver involved in Karnataka’s Chitradurga accident that claimed at least 10 lives on Thursday, has shared his terrifying ordeal. He reportedly said that he tried to drive the bus when he saw the vehicle coming from the opposite direction but was unable to do so. He added that the other vehicle was speeding, traveling at a speed of 60-70 kmph, according to NDTV.
Four bus passengers and the truck driver are among the dead. Inspector General of Police East Zone Ravikanthe Gowda informed that the tragedy occurred after the truck jumped the road divider and rammed into the oncoming bus, PTI reported. The accident reportedly happened at 2 am.
Karnataka Chitradurga bus accident: What did the driver say?
“It was speeding. I was maintaining a speed of 60-70 (km/h) at that time. I saw the vehicle coming from the front. All I know is that the vehicle (truck) hit the bus,” Rafiqa was quoted as saying by NDTV.
He added: “I was trying to drive the bus when I saw a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. My bus even touched another vehicle that was moving beside us; I don’t know what kind of vehicle it was. But it (control) didn’t work.”
He doesn’t remember what happened next or how he was saved. Rafiq said he tried to steer his vehicle away when he spotted the speeding truck but was unable to do so, the report said.
The bus carrying 32 people including 30 passengers was traveling from Bengaluru to Gokarna. After the collision, the vehicle caught fire and most of the victims were burnt alive in the bus at Golarthi in Hiriyur Taluk, Gowda said. He mentioned that the bus driver and the cleaner managed to escape while the truck driver was among the dead.
A survivor of the bus accident near the area said the vehicle was engulfed in flames and the doors could not be opened after it caught fire after the collision. “We broke the glass and tried to escape. People were screaming at that time. Some tried to save others but the fire was spreading fast, making rescue difficult,” Aditya, another survivor, told PTI.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condoled the loss of lives and announced ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also said that he would thoroughly investigate the fatal accident.
