TV
A road accident involving a private car and an Ama Bus at Mangala Ghat Traffic Square in Puri on Thursday left a few tourists from West Bengal injured and temporarily disrupted vehicular movement in the area.
According to initial reports, the incident took place when a car carrying a group of tourists from West Bengal was en route to Sakhigopal via Satapada.
The vehicle collided head-on with an Ama Bus operating within Puri town limits. The collision left several occupants of the car with minor injuries, all of whom were admitted to a nearby medical facility for first aid.
The damaged car remained stuck at the intersection for a considerable time, causing inconvenience to commuters. It was eventually removed from the road with the help of a crane and relocated to the Khali Padia area.
Meanwhile, the local traffic police have launched an inquiry into the incident and are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the sequence of events. However, they have not yet offered any comments on the matter.
Recurring Accidents Raise Alarms in Cuttack
The Puri incident is the latest in a series of accidents involving Ama Buses across Odisha. In a separate incident on July 19 in Cuttack, an eight-year-old schoolgirl had a narrow escape after her bicycle was run over by an Ama Bus near Sati Choura Traffic Square.
The Class IV student, returning home from school, was hit from behind. While the bus crushed her schoolbag and bicycle, the girl was flung to the roadside and survived with only minor bruises.
Bystanders rushed to the scene and alerted the Bidanasi Police, who seized the bus and detained the driver for questioning. The incident triggered outrage among local residents, who demanded stricter enforcement of traffic rules, particularly in sensitive school zones.
Fatalities Add to Public Worry
Public concerns have deepened after a fatal accident earlier this month. On July 14, a young motorcyclist died after being hit by an Ama Bus near Barang Block Chhak in Cuttack. Eyewitnesses said the speeding bus, en route from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack, rammed into the youth from behind, killing him on the spot.
