10 students injured, close shave for over 50 picnickers in separate road mishaps in Odisha

At least 50 students got a new lease of life after a bus ferrying them rammed into a truck on NH-20 near Dhakota of Keonjhar district while they were returning from a picnic. The students from a school in Balasore had been to Sambalpur for a picnic.

There was no casualty but three students, the driver of the bus, and a teacher reportedly sustained injuries in the mishap. 

"We were all asleep when the mishap occurred. Before we could understand anything, the bus rammed into a truck from behind. Several students have suffered injuries while the condition of three is critical. Luckily, there has been no casualty," a student said.

"We had gone for a picnic to Maa Samaleswari Temple in two buses. In one bus, there were boys while the other bus ferried girls. All of a sudden, the driver of the truck stationed his vehicle alongside the highway, leading to the mishap. Fortunately, there is no casualty and no one has sustained serious injuries. The driver of the bus has also sustained injuries," informed Nibedita Bhoi, a teacher.

"We were on a morning walk. The truck driver slowed down all of a sudden following which the bus driver lost balance and hit it from rear. The bus driver is injured. One of their teachers is also injured. With the help of locals, we rushed them to hospital," said a local, Birabhadra Shetty.

In yet another road mishap in Sonepur, at least seven students sustained grievous injuries after a picnic bus ferrying them hit a truck from rear near Khambasiripali.

Four of the injured were admitted to Sonepur Hospital while three others shifted to Burla-based VIMSAR Hospital after their condition deteriorated.

According to sources, at least 45 students of a private institute in Seonpur had been to Deomali for picnic. The incident occurred when the students were on their way back. It is yet to be known if the bus driver dozed off or was trying to overtake the truck.