The bus, which belonged to Sri Annapurneshwari Travels, was gutted in a fire.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A private sleeper bus (non-AC), heading to Bengaluru from Hosanagara in Shivamogga district, caught fire near Sudur in Hosanagara taluk on Tuesday night (January 27, 2026), leaving several injured.

As the bus carrying 36 passengers was approaching Sudur, smoke was noticed in the driver’s cabin. The driver in panic stopped the bus after hitting a tree around 10:30 p.m. The passengers, who were not yet sleeping, opened the windows and emergency exit and jumped off the vehicle.

Three people, including the driver and conductor, suffered burn injuries, while a few others sustained minor injuries. The local police and Fire and Emergency Services staff rushed to the spot.

Shivamogga’s Superintendent of Police, B. Nikhil, told The Hindu that since it was a non-AC bus, the passengers could open the windows and jump off the vehicle. “Because it was a non-AC bus, the passengers could get down from the bus quickly. Three people suffered burn injuries, and a few others sustained bruises while getting off the vehicle in a panic,” he stated.

The injured are under treatment. The bus, which belonged to Sri Annapurneshwari Travels, was gutted in a fire.

Published – January 28, 2026 07:58 am IST