9 killed, 21 injured in India bus crash

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least nine people have been killed and 21 others injured after a private sleeper coach collided with a lorry in the Indian state of Karnataka, media reports said on Thursday.

The accident occurred on National Highway 48 at Gorlathu Cross in Hiriyur taluk of Karnataka’s Chitradurga district when the private sleeper coach struck a lorry and subsequently burst into flames, The Hindustan Times reported.

The bus, which was carrying 32 passengers, was engulfed in flames following the impact of the collision, and most of the deceased were reportedly burnt alive inside the vehicle. East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Police said several of the injured had been taken to hospital and warned that the death toll could rise.

hz/sa