In a terrifying incident, a passenger bus operated by private transport company Durgamba Motors caught fire at Varur near Hubbali in Karnataka, leaving three burned to death and 9 others critically injured.

The bus was on its way to Dharwad from Bengaluru, and the accident is reported to have happened between 5am and 5:30am, according to the police. It was a non-AC sleeper bus.

According to Hubballi SP Dharmendra Kumar Meena, there were 15 passenger and three crew members (2 drivers and one cleaner) in the bus. The driver of the bus has also sustained injuries. 

Most of the injured have been taken to KIMS hospital in Hubballi, but three have been shifted to KLE Hospital in Belagavi as their injuries are more serious.

Meena said that they had found some substance in the bus. "We cannot say whether it was flammable or not. We have sent it to the FSL."

The fire is believed to have started at the back of the bus. The bodies have not been identified yet.

This is a developing story