Phulbani: More than 25 passengers sustained injuries after a bus they were travelling in overturned while crossing Gadiapada ghat near Phulbani of Kandhamal district late Thursday night.
The incident took place at around 12 AM. The private bus 'Raja' was enroute to Bhubaneswar from Tikabali of the district when the driver of the vehicle lost control while negotiating a sharp turn.
As a result, the bus skidded off the road and turned turtle along the ghat. The bus was carrying around 40 passengers.
Locals rushed to the spot after learning about the mishap and immediately informed Khajuripada Police. A police team along with the fire fighters rushed to the spot and rescued the passengers.
All the injured were initially taken to Khajuripada Hospital in ambulances and later around 20 passengers, who received critical injuries, were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for better treatment.
Meanwhile, the health condition of four persons is stated to be critical, said hospital sources.
"The bus was just about to cross the ghat when the accident occurred. I was sleeping on the sleeper seat and fell down after the bus overturned. Around 40 passengers were travelling in the bus," said a victim undergoing treatment at the DHH.
"As we were asleep, I don't have any idea what exactly happened. Locals and police helped us come out the bus and admitted us to the hospital," said another patient.
On the other hand, the Khajuripada Police has started an investigation to ascertain the exact cause behind the accident. The police have also seized the bus and suspecting that the driver lost control due to some mechanical fault in the vehicle.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)