2 dead, 34 injured as bus falls off bridge near Bhawanipatna

Kalahandi: Two persons, including a two-year-old child, were killed and more than 34 passengers sustained injuries after a bus they were travelling in fell off the Lalpolia Bridge on NH-26 near Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district early this morning.

The mishap occurred at around 5.30 am this morning when the fateful bus, carrying around 55 passengers, was on its way from Bhubaneswar to Bhawanipatna.

The bus 'Manikeswari Travels', plunged into a 30-feet deep gorge after the driver dozed off and lost control over the vehicle, reports said.

Soon after the mishap, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations along with the locals.

All the injured have been admitted to Bhawanipatna District Headquarters Hospital. "The bus conductor and a 2-year-old child succumbed while undergoing treatment. The patients who are critical will be shifted to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla," informed doctors at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Officer and SDPO have also reached the mishap spot and initiated an investigation.