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A pall of gloom descended on Digapahandi in Ganjam district after 12 people were killed in a tragic accident involving two buses on Monday. Family members and relatives of the deceased are crestfallen. They are crying inconsolably with the loss of the lives of their near and dear ones.
Apart from killing 12 people, the head-on collision of an OSRTC bus and a private bus left eight others injured. All the injured have been admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the mishap and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
“Pained by the bus accident in Ganjam district, Odisha. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” the PMO tweeted.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 3 lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
As per reports, while the OSRTC bus was en-route Bhubaneswar from Gudari, Rayagada, the private bus was returning from Berhampur, carrying a marriage party from Khandadeuli village in the district.
As per a passenger, the OSRTC collided head-on with the private bus which was carrying as many as 25 passengers.
“12 passengers lost their lives as they were pressed in the bus due to the severe accident. Eight of the passengers have been severely injured. It was a heart-wrenching incident. I escaped miraculously,” said a passenger.
“I have lost my two younger brothers in the tragic accident. What will happen to our family now? I am feeling completely helpless,” said the elder brother of two deceased.
As per reports, the private bus has sustained maximum damage in the accident. As many as six passengers including four women and two children in the private bus have lost their lives.
Ganjam Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek, Local MLA and MP rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital to oversee the medical facilities extended to the injured.
“We have information of death of 12 people in the accident while eight persons are undergoing treatment at MKCG hospital. A critically injured person has been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. All arrangements have been made here for the treatment of the injured persons,” informed Ganjam Collector Dibyajyoti Parida.
“I extend my sympathy to the family members who have lost their near and dear ones. All kinds of medical facilities will be provided to the injured. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. It could be revealed following thorough investigation,” said Berhampur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda have expressed their deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
“Ganjam Digapahandi accident has deeply saddened me. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of all the deceased. I pray for all the departed souls to rest in peace and wish speedy recovery of the injured,” tweeted CM Patnaik.
“I am deeply saddened to know about the tragic accident in Ganjam. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured persons and my thoughts are with the bereaved family who suffered loss,” tweeted Pradhan.
Expressing deep grief to the family of the victims Panda wrote, “I am deeply saddened after hearing about the deceased and the injured in the tragic accident near Khemundi college in Digapahandi of Ganjam district. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray before Lord Jagannath for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
