TV
In a tragic incident, as many as five people were killed, with 20 others critically injured after a private bus collided head-on with a gas tanker near Samarjhola Chhak in Berhampur in the wee hours of Thursday.
The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained.
According to sources, the mishap occurred when the ill-fated private bus from Bhawanipatna was en route to Berhampur. It collided head-on with the gas tanker coming from the opposite direction.
The impact of the collision was so intense that the driver of the gas tanker lost control over the wheels and the vehicle rammed into a roadside tea stall mowing down three customers at the shop, sources informed, adding that one of the passengers of the bus also died in the mishap.
On being informed about the incident, the district administration officials and police immediately rushed to the spot and started the rescue operations. The injured were immediately rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital. The condition of many of them is stated to be critical, sources informed.
The death toll in the mishap may rise further, as many passengers are still trapped inside the bus, sources informed, adding that vehicular movement on the route has been affected following the accident.
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Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the next kin of the deceased who died in mishap. While the ; critically injured will get Rs 1 lakh each, the CM announced free treatment for the injured.
