More than 11 people were feared dead early Thursday morning on December 25, 2025. A container truck hit a private luxury sleeper bus on National Highway 48 near Hiriyur in Karnataka's Chitradurga district. The bus was traveling from Bengaluru to Gokarna via Shivamogga. The crash caused the bus to catch fire. Some passengers escaped by jumping out of the burning vehicle. Local police rushed to the accident site, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told The Hindu that over-speeding is likely the main reason behind the crash. He said, "Transport Commissioner Yogeshwar and Assistant Commissioner Omkareshwari have been directed to visit the accident site and conduct a spot inspection to assess the situation and submit a detailed report." The investigation is ongoing.