Chitradurga, Dec 26 || The death toll in the bus tragedy in Karnataka's Chitradurga mounted to seven after the ill-fated bus driver succumbed to injuries in the wee hours on Friday.
At least six people were burnt alive, and 21 others suffered burns after a sleeper coach bus caught fire following a collision with a container truck in Chitradurga district of Karnataka on Thursday.
The bus driver, 42-year-old Mohammad Rafeeq, a resident of Shiggaon in Haveri district, was admitted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi city.
He was thrown out of the bus along with the assistant following the collision. Police stated that Mohammad Rafeeq underwent surgery on Thursday night but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours on Friday.
The bus driver, Mohammad Rafeeq, had said from his hospital bed that all he remembers is a speeding truck suddenly crashing into his bus.
"I was driving at a speed of around 60 to 70 kmph. All I remember is a container truck coming and hitting my vehicle. I tried to control the bus, but it was not possible.