In the early hours of Thursday, December 25, 2025, a major accident on National Highway 48 near Hiriyur in Karnataka's Chitradurga district turned into a harrowing scene, but the quick thinking of a school bus driver averted further tragedy. A container truck veered off its course, jumped the median, and collided with a private sleeper bus en route from Bengaluru to Gokarna. The impact ruptured the bus's fuel tank, causing a massive fire that claimed the lives of at least five people and injured several others.

Amidst the chaos and flames, Sachin, a 25-year-old driver of a private bus carrying 43 pre-university students, displayed remarkable composure and courage. Sachin's bus was closely following the ill-fated sleeper bus. Seeing the looming danger, Sachin reacted swiftly.

"The sleeper bus overtook me. My bus was a few feet behind when a truck from the opposite direction crossed over the divider and hit the sleeper bus," Sachin recounted to The Hindu. "Due to the impact, the sleeper bus swerved left and hit my bus. I moved off the road, crossed the fencing, and parked my bus on the service road. All the children in my bus are safe".

Sachin's prompt action of steering his bus away from the collision and onto the service road prevented a direct hit, sparing the lives of all 43 students on board. But his heroism didn't stop there. Despite sustaining a minor head injury from the impact, Sachin immediately jumped out of his bus and rushed towards the burning vehicle.

"I ran and broke the window of the burning bus and helped nine people trapped inside to get out one by one," Sachin told The Federal. "Another person who was present there also helped me. But the entire bus was engulfed in flames". Sachin, along with another individual, managed to rescue nine passengers from the inferno before an explosion made further rescue attempts impossible.

Eyewitnesses described the horrific scenes as passengers struggled to escape the burning bus. One survivor, Aditya, recalled, "There was fire all around, and the door could not be opened". Another eyewitness recounted the desperate pleas of a mother trying to save her child trapped inside the burning bus.

The accident has prompted widespread শোক and condolences. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their grief and offered condolences to the bereaved families. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy attributed the fire to the truck hitting the bus near the fuel tank.

Sachin's bravery and presence of mind have been widely lauded. Locals have expressed their appreciation for his timely intervention, which prevented further loss of life. "The driver deserves appreciation for his skills. He managed the situation well and ensured the safety of the schoolchildren," said Kariyanna, a resident of Javanagondanahalli. Sachin, hailed as a hero, remains humble, though haunted by the lives he couldn't save.

The incident underscores the importance of road safety and the critical role that quick thinking and courageous individuals can play in averting disaster.