Bargarh-Bhubaneswar bus meets with accident in Khordha, several injured

A bus carrying about 60 passengers overturned into a roadside ditch along the Baghmari-Begunia road in Odisha's Khordha district late last night. While no fatalities were reported, at least 10 passengers sustained injuries in the mishap.

Reportedly, the bus, belonging to the Chakadola operators, was en route from Bargarh to Bhubaneswar when it lost control at about 3 am and collided with a roadside electric pole before overturning and slipping down the road and into the ditch.

Overhanging live electric wires reportedly snapped and narrowly missed contacting the bus, potentially averting any major tragedy. However, the impact of the collision injured several passengers, who were immediately rushed to nearby medical facilities in Khordha and Bhubaneswar.

ALSO READ: Another LAccMI bus meets with accident in Odisha, several injured

A JCB crane, which happened to pass by the area at the time of the accident, reportedly aided the locals in an initial rescue attempt that involved pulling people out of the overturned bus.

Meanwhile, police reached the site and took stock of the situation. While they did not offer any comments on the matter, initial reports suggest that the bus driver fell asleep at the wheel leading to the tragedy.

The mishap comes at a time when a passer-by was killed and more than 10 passengers were injured as a bus overturned near Tilo along Bhadrak-Anandpur road on Sunday when it was on its way to Bant from Bhadrak.

ALSO READ: Mo Bus catches fire in Cuttack; 'no passengers on-board'

The driver lost his balance over the wheel near Talapada village under Tilo Gram Panchayat and overturned at around 7.30 am following which the vehicle rammed into a person from the Tilo area who was passing nearby the area; he died on the spot.