Bus fire accidents have killed 64 people and injured 145 nationwide between January 1, 2021, and December 10, 2025, says the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Karnataka reported three such fires with 14 injuries during this period. These figures exclude a deadly December 25, 2025 crash where a container truck hit a Bengaluru-bound bus causing a fire that killed at least six. Also excluded is a Kurnool accident on October 24, 2025, where a bus-motorcycle collision led to a fire killing 20. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared these numbers in a Rajya Sabha reply on December 17. Transport experts highlight major safety gaps. M.N. Srihari said many sleeper buses use cheap, flammable materials and lack proper crash tests. "Unsafe modifications like extra fuel tanks are common," he noted. Inside buses, curtains and mattresses are often highly combustible, heightening fire risk. Driver training is also poor. "Drivers are often not trained to handle emergencies," Srihari said. "In sleeper buses, where passengers are asleep and disoriented, every second counts." Experts call for thorough safety audits and strict enforcement of rules, especially for sleeper buses. Continuous monitoring is needed to prevent such tragic fires.