Angul, July 23 (UDN): At least five passengers were injured after a Hyva truck rammed into an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) passenger bus on National Highway-55 near Bhagirathipur Chhak under Jarapada police limits in Angul district on Thursday.

According to preliminary reports, the OSRTC bus was travelling from Chhendipada to Athmallik and had halted at Bhagirathipur Chhak to pick up passengers when the accident occurred.

A Hyva truck approaching from behind allegedly failed to stop in time and crashed into the stationary bus, injuring at least five passengers in the impact.

Injured Shifted to Hospital

Local residents and commuters rushed to the spot immediately after the collision and joined police personnel in rescuing the injured. The victims were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), Angul, in ambulances and police vehicles for treatment.

Hospital sources said the injured are undergoing medical care, though their identities and the extent of their injuries have not yet been officially disclosed.

Investigation Underway

Police reached the accident site soon after the mishap, cleared the damaged vehicles from the highway, and initiated an investigation into the cause of the collision.

Officials are examining whether overspeeding, driver negligence, or failure to maintain a safe distance led to the accident.

The incident briefly disrupted traffic on the busy NH-55 before normal vehicular movement was restored. Authorities have appealed to motorists to exercise caution, particularly near bus stops and passenger boarding points, to prevent such accidents.