Angul, July 21 (UDN): At least six passengers sustained critical injuries while more than 25 others were hurt after an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) Jagannath Express bus overturned on National Highway-149 in Angul district during the early hours of Tuesday.
The bus, which was travelling from Puri to Sundargarh, met with the accident near Burukuna Chhak under the jurisdiction of Samal Police Station. According to preliminary reports, the vehicle lost control before overturning on the highway.
Officials said the bus was carrying more than 50 passengers at the time of the mishap. Many of them were asleep when the accident occurred, resulting in panic as passengers struggled to escape from the overturned vehicle.
One survivor said the incident took place between 3:00 am and 3:30 am, around 10 to 15 kilometres from the Khamar toll gate while the bus was heading towards Rourkela.
“Most of us were asleep when the bus suddenly overturned. There was complete chaos inside, and many passengers found it difficult to get out,” the passenger said.
Soon after the accident, personnel from the Fire Services Department and 108 ambulance services reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. Local residents also assisted in evacuating the injured from the damaged bus.
The injured passengers were initially shifted to the Khamar Community Health Centre for emergency treatment. Those with serious injuries were later referred to the Angul District Headquarters Hospital, while several critically injured passengers were transferred to hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar for advanced medical care.
Police have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. While initial reports suggest the driver may have lost control of the vehicle, the exact circumstances leading to the mishap are yet to be established.
The accident once again raises concerns over passenger safety on long-distance overnight bus services, with authorities expected to examine whether factors such as driver fatigue, speeding, or mechanical failure contributed to the incident.