Over 20 Injured as Passenger Bus Overturns in Odisha’s Dhenkanal
Driver took unfamiliar muddy route, say survivors.
Bhubaneswar: In a tragic road accident, a passenger bus travelling from Parjang in Dhenkanal district to Bhubaneswar overturned on Friday, leaving more than 20 people seriously injured. The incident took place near Kantiokteni under the jurisdiction of Tumusingha police station.
The ill-fated bus was reportedly carrying over 50 passengers when it lost balance and overturned on a muddy canal-side road. According to eyewitness accounts and injured passengers, the driver deviated from the regular route and took an unfamiliar path, which was slippery due to recent rains.
"The driver was not familiar with this canal road. It was narrow, muddy and risky. We requested him to turn back, but he didn’t listen," said one of the injured passengers, speaking from a hospital bed.
Emergency rescue operations were launched immediately. Personnel from the fire services and local villagers rushed to the spot and helped evacuate the injured from the wreckage. The injured were first taken to the Anlaberini Community Health Centre (CHC) for first aid and preliminary treatment.
Health officials said that arrangements were underway to shift the critically injured passengers to better-equipped medical facilities in Dhenkanal and Bhubaneswar for advanced care.
The local police reached the accident site and begun an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest negligence on part of the driver. Both the driver and conductor of the bus reportedly fled the scene shortly after the mishap.
Authorities were working to trace the absconding staff and ascertain whether the bus route deviation was authorised.