Five youths killed after car jumps median, crashes into KSRTC bus on Bengaluru–Tumakuru Highway

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 16, 2026: Five young men lost their lives in a tragic late-night accident on the Bengaluru–Tumakuru National Highway after their car jumped the road median and crashed head-on into a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus bound for Hubballi, officials said.

The accident occurred around 11.30 pm on Saturday on the Chikkabidarakallu flyover, opposite Canara Bank near Jindal City.

The victims were travelling in a Tata Indica (KA 02 MA 884) towards Bengaluru when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. According to police, the car was being driven at high speed, causing it to mount the divider and collide with the oncoming bus.

The force of the impact left the car completely mangled.

Kemparaj, driver of the KSRTC bus (KA 06 F 1224), said he was heading towards Hubballi with 55 passengers on board when the car suddenly “flew over the divider” and struck the bus. “The noise was deafening. Glass shattered everywhere and even hit me. It all happened in a split second,” he said.

Although the bus sustained considerable damage, all passengers escaped without major injuries. A few suffered minor injuries and were treated at a nearby hospital.

Police identified the deceased as Harshith (20), a second-year BCom student at Sai Vidya First Grade College, Rajanukunte; Lalit Kumar (20) of Gangadharapura Layout; Keshav (19) and Durga Prasad (20) from Kallupete; and Dhanush. Four of them were residents of Doddaballapur.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Karthik Reddy said the car was travelling from the Nelamangala side when it reportedly climbed the flyover ramp, crossed the median, and rammed into the bus. “All five deceased were aged between 17 and 24 years. It has been identified that Keshav was driving. We are investigating the exact cause of the accident and have collected blood samples to check for possible alcohol consumption,” he said.

Authorities are also examining the victims’ backgrounds, including any prior criminal records.

Lalit Kumar, who worked as a CCTV camera operator, had told his mother, Rupa, a schoolteacher, that he was visiting a temple with friends. “I spoke to him around 8.45 pm, and he said they were on their way back. We did not even know who owned the car,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) D.L. Nagesh reached the scene soon after the crash to supervise rescue efforts. He confirmed that four victims died on the spot, while one succumbed after being shifted for emergency treatment.

While overspeeding is suspected to be the primary cause, Madanayakanahalli police are also probing whether rash driving or a mechanical failure contributed to the crash.

A KSRTC official said the bus, attached to the Tumakuru depot, was operating on the Bengaluru–Hubballi route. Senior officials from the corporation’s Kempegowda Bus Station division later visited the site to inspect the damage.