Ama bus accident sparks protest at CRUT depot; Odisha CM announces Rs 4L ex-gratia

Protests erupted on Sunday over the death of an auto-rickshaw driver and a woman after being hit by a ‘Ama Bus’ at Rupali Chhak in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar.

Members of the Online Smart City Auto Mahasangh staged a demonstration in front of the CRUT Gajabandha bus depot, demanding justice and compensation for the deceased driver’s family.

Protesters raised slogans and accused the authorities of negligence, demanding accountability and immediate support for the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government announced financial assistance for the victim’s family. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to the next of kin of the deceased.

The CM has also directed officials to provide necessary training to the drivers to avoid repeated accidents in the Capital city. 

Furthermore, the protesters demand for stricter safety measures and proper regulation of public transport services to prevent such incidents in the future. They also urged the authorities to ensure fair investigation into the accident and take appropriate action against those responsible.

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Police and transport officials reached the protest site to manage the situation and held discussions with the agitators. Normalcy was restored later in the day after assurances were given by officials regarding further action and safety reviews.

The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety and public transport management in the city.