On the night of 27 January 2026, a private non-AC sleeper bus operated by Annapurneshwari Travels, carrying 36 passengers from Hosanagara in Shivamogga district to Bengaluru, caught fire near Sudur in Hosanagara taluk around 10:30 pm.

Smoke was first noticed in the driver’s cabin, prompting the driver to bring the bus to an emergency halt, during which the vehicle struck a roadside tree. Passengers, many still awake, escaped through windows and the emergency exit before the blaze consumed the bus.

Although everyone got out alive and six people were confirmed injured, some with burn-related and fall-related trauma, the vehicle was completely gutted and all luggage lost. Local police have registered a case, and officials are investigating the possible cause of the fire.

Passengers Escape Bus Fire Near Sudur

The bus was making its way towards Bengaluru when trouble began late on Tuesday night on a typically quiet stretch near Sudur village in Hosanagara taluk. According to local reports, as the bus approached a curve, the driver noticed thick smoke emanating from the cabin area and attempted to stop the vehicle immediately to avert disaster. In the panic that followed, the bus lost control and collided with a roadside tree a move that may have worsened the fire due to structural damage near the engine compartment.

Passengers, who were not fully asleep at the time, quickly reacted to the rising smoke. Many began shouting warnings and broke open windows or used the emergency exit to jump to safety. Local residents and emergency responders arrived on the spot within minutes of the fire being reported, aiding in evacuation and first-aid measures.

At least six passengers suffered injuries, including minor burns and injuries sustained while exiting the vehicle in haste. They were rushed to the McGann District Hospital in Shivamogga for treatment, where medical staff assessed their conditions as stable, with no immediate life-threatening injuries reported.

The bus itself was soon reduced to a charred skeleton. Fire tenders that reached the scene battled the blaze, but the fire had spread rapidly due to the fuel and combustible materials on board, including passengers’ belongings stored in the luggage bay. Many travellers lost all personal items from clothes and documents to electronic devices as the inferno engulfed the coach within minutes of ignition.

Safety Gaps, Broader Context and Ongoing Inquiry

While the exact cause of the fire has yet to be officially confirmed, initial police statements and reports suggest possible mechanical faults such as an electrical short circuit or engine overheating could be responsible a conclusion that will be tested by detailed technical inspection as part of the ongoing investigation launched by Hosanagara taluk police. Officials have indicated that vehicle maintenance records and the bus’s fitness certificate will be scrutinised to determine compliance with safety norms.

The incident has revived concern about long-distance bus safety in Karnataka. Just a month earlier, a private sleeper bus in Chitradurga district collided with a truck and caught fire on 25 December 2025, killing multiple passengers and injuring many more, according to multiple police and news reports.

That tragedy occurred when a container truck allegedly jumped the median on NH-48 and struck the bus’s diesel tank, leading to a rapid blaze that trapped people inside before rescue teams could extract them.

In response to similar tragedies in the region in recent months including fatal fires in both Karnataka and neighbouring states there have been calls for tighter regulations. Transport experts and safety advocates argue that better enforcement of maintenance checks, stricter emergency-exit accessibility norms, and mandatory safety equipment such as multiple, easily accessible fire extinguishers could prevent loss of life in future incidents.

Some public safety campaigns have even urged regulatory authorities to bolster surprise inspections of private travel operators and to ensure drivers and conductors receive regular emergency training particularly for overnight routes when passengers are more vulnerable.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

The near-tragedy on the Hosanagara– Bengaluru route is a sharp reminder that precaution must always precede peril. While the relatively low casualty toll in this case is a relief, the frequency of serious bus fires and collisions in recent months some claiming lives shows a pattern that demands urgent corrective action from authorities and private operators alike. Safe travel is not just about reaching a destination; it is about ensuring that every journey respects the dignity and security of those on board.