Koraput, July 23 (UDN): More than 15 passengers were injured after a tourist bus overturned near Auli in Odisha’s Koraput district on Thursday after the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

The bus, ‘Jaga Kalia’, was travelling from Chandahandi in Nabarangpur district to Gunupur with over 60 passengers on board when the accident occurred.

According to preliminary reports, the speeding bus first rammed into a road divider before overturning and plunging into a nearby field. The impact left several passengers trapped inside the vehicle, while many others sustained injuries.

Farmers Lead Rescue Efforts

Farmers working in nearby fields were the first to rush to the scene and began rescuing passengers from the overturned bus. Soon after, personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services at Nabarangpur and Borigumma joined the operation and helped evacuate those trapped inside the mangled vehicle.

The injured passengers were shifted to the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and the Borigumma Community Health Centre (CHC) for treatment. Officials said the condition of the injured is being closely monitored.

Police Launch Investigation

Police from Borigumma Police Station reached the accident site soon after the mishap and initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash.

Preliminary findings suggest the driver lost control of the bus, but officials are also examining whether overspeeding, mechanical failure, or road conditions contributed to the accident.

The damaged bus has been removed from the road, and normal traffic has since been restored. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.