TV
In a heart-wrenching incident, at least 4 pilgrims on their way to Gupteswar from Cuttack were killed while over 30 were rendered critical after the bus ferrying them overturned at Daparighati under Boipariguda police station limits in Koraput district on early Sunday morning.
Many have lost their hands and legs in the tragic accident, it was learnt. Among the injured are several women and children, preliminary sources said. The injured are currently under treatment at Boipariguda Medical Centre. While four have died, the condition of many remains critical, reports added.
Sources also updated that many of the seriously injured victims were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jeypore whereas few of the critically injured were subsequently moved to Koraput's Saheed Laxman Nayak (SLN) Medical College and Hospital.
The bus reportedly veered off the road early this morning while making a turn around the road overlooking steep ghats. Since there was a sharp curve in the road, the driver failed to halt the vehicle in time despite applying the brakes. As a result, the bus slipped off a height and many parts of it were mangled, said eyewitnesses. Many pilgrim passengers suffered major cuts and bone dislocations after being crushed in the impact.
A survivor from the Alisha Bazar area of Cuttack ruled out foggy weather conditions and the driver falling asleep as possible causes behind the accident. As per him, the group had made a stop at Jeypore at about 2 am in the night, took sufficient rest until 4 am, and only departed for Gupteswar when the conditions were right. However, the sharp bend in the road and the overloaded bus may have caused the mishap, he said in his statement.
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Sources indicated that the incident occurred while the bus carrying around 45-50 pilgrims from Niali in Cuttack district was en route to Koraput’s Gupteswar on pilgrimage. The bus reportedly overturned near a turning at Daparighati.
On being informed, local police and officials rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operation with the help of locals. The reason for the tragic mishap is yet to be known.
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Meanwhile, CM Mohan Majhi condoled the tragic bus mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2L each for the kin of the deceased.
