Jajpur, July 24 (UDN): At least 10 passengers were seriously injured after a private night coach bus rammed into the rear of a stationary truck on National Highway-16 near Gopalpur in Odisha’s Jajpur district late Thursday night.

The accident involved a Sana Travels bus, which was travelling from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata with more than 50 passengers on board.

According to preliminary information, the bus collided with a truck parked on the highway under circumstances that are yet to be ascertained. The impact of the crash left several passengers trapped inside the mangled vehicle.

Rescue Operation Launched

Local residents, along with personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, rushed to the accident site and launched a rescue operation. The injured passengers were extricated from the bus and shifted to the Dharmasala Community Health Centre in ambulances.

Hospital sources said more than 10 passengers sustained serious injuries. Those in critical condition were later referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, for advanced treatment.

Several other passengers suffered minor injuries and escaped with timely medical attention.

Police Begin Investigation

Following the incident, teams from Dharmasala and Kuakhia police stations reached the spot, cleared the damaged vehicles and initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Police have seized the bus and are examining the circumstances leading to the collision, including whether the stationary truck was parked in accordance with traffic safety norms.

The accident briefly disrupted vehicular movement on the busy highway before normal traffic was restored after the rescue and clearance operations.

Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the mishap.