4 tourists killed, 16 critical as bus from Uttar Pradesh meets with accident in Odisha

At least four tourists, including a woman from Uttar Pradesh, died after the bus in which they were travelling overturned on NH-16 in Odisha’s Balasore district late last night. The tourists were on their way to have darshan of Lord Jagannath in Puri from Kolkata when their bus rolled down 20-ft down the road near Chalanti by-pass under Jaleswar police limits.

As per initial reports, the bus was carrying 57 tourists from different parts of Uttar Pradesh. The tourists had left Uttar Pradesh on September 18 and visited several places in Bihar and Jharkhand and were on their way to Puri when the mishap took place. The bus had left from Kolkata yesterday.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Mishra, Santaram Yadav, Kamala Devi Yadav and Rajprasad Yadav. Reportedly, 22 passengers have sustained injuries in the mishap of which the condition of 16 tourists is stated to be critical and they are undergoing treatment at Balasore district headquarters hospital.

“We had left Uttar Pradesh on September 18. We do not know how the accident occurred. I was travelling along with two other family members. Most of the passengers were sleeping as it was late at night,” said a tourist.

Another injured tourist said, “We were going to Jagannath Dham when the accident occurred. We had already visited several places including in Gaya. I am searching for my father who was sleeping on the roof of the bus.”

Jaleswar SDPO, Dilip Sahu said, “The bus turned turtle between 1 am and 1:30 am on Friday. We immediately rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations. Four persons including a woman tourist have died in the accident. Some tourists have minor injuries and we have started the process of contacting the family members.”