TV
At least 19 passengers had a lucky escape with injuries after a bus ferrying them overturned mid-way in Bargarh’s Barpali area late last night. The mishap occurred while the private bus carrying the passengers was en route to Damanjodi.
While no exact reason for the mishap was ascertained immediately, passengers claimed that the driver was drunk and hit the vehicle on a divider after losing control. All the injured were rescued and admitted to Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
The condition of one of the injured passengers worsened following which he was referred to Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences And Research (VIMSAR) for better treatment.
Police registered a case and launched a probe into the incident while the driver is currently absconding.
“My son is a sickle cell anemia patient. I had taken him to a hospital and we were returning home by the bus. The driver was drunk and was harassing and misbehaving with us, but no one said anything to him. He was driving in high speed. We should have got down from the bus,” said a passenger.
“We are alive only because of the blessings of Maa Samaleswari. I thank Maa that everyone is safe and my son is also safe,” she added.
Similarly, another passenger said, “I was going to Koraput from Burla. The driver was drunk and hit the divider after failing to control the bus. He was also driving in high speed. Several passengers have broken their hands and legs. My wife’s hand is fractured. I have also injured my leg.”
“At least 19 passengers were admitted. The condition of two of them was serious. One of them was referred to Burla VIMSAR while another passenger is getting treatment here. The condition of others is stable now and they have been discharged,” informed Dr RN Burma of the DHH.
