Yadgir (Karnataka): A devastating road accident claimed the lives of six people, including children, in the Yadgir district of Karnataka on Friday, April 17, 2026. The tragedy occurred near Shantapura Cross (also reported near Devapur) in Surpur taluk when a Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV) collided head-on with a private bus and instantly burst into flames. According to the Superintendent of Police, Pruthvik Shankar, preliminary investigations suggest the car suffered a sudden tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and veer into the path of the oncoming bus.
The impact was so severe that the car was quickly engulfed in fire, leaving the occupants with little chance to escape. Out of the eight people travelling in the car, six were burnt alive at the spot. Two others were rescued by courageous locals and rushed to the Yadgiri Institute of Medical Sciences, where they remain in critical condition. The victims, who hailed from Sirwar taluk in Raichur district, were returning home from Yadgir. The private bus was en route from Bengaluru to Kalaburagi at the time of the crash.
While both vehicles were significantly damaged—with reports indicating the bus was also gutted by the fire—all passengers on the bus were successfully evacuated in time and are reported to be safe. Fire and emergency services personnel reached the scene to douse the flames, and the Surpur police have initiated a formal investigation into the incident. This accident follows a string of similar highway tragedies in the region, once again highlighting urgent concerns regarding road safety and high-speed tyre failures.
