Karnataka Bus Blaze Kills 5: Diesel Tank Hit, Left-Side Seats Saved Lives

• A Seabird Tourist bus from Bengaluru to Gokarna collided head-on with a container truck near Hiriyur, Chitradurga, in the early hours, killing over 5 passengers.
• The container truck jumped the median and struck the bus's diesel tank, causing an immediate fuel leak and rapid ignition, engulfing the bus in flames.
• Most passengers were asleep, trapping many inside; the fire spread quickly, leaving little time for escape.
• Passengers on lower berths on the left side of the bus, including a group of friends and a family, narrowly escaped the inferno.
• Rescue efforts faced challenges due to a massive 4 km traffic jam, delaying ambulances and firefighters; an investigation is underway.

Why It Matters: Deadly bus fire highlights highway safety concerns; specific seating saved lives amidst rapid blaze.