A tourist vehicle overturned on the Sambalpur–Rairakhol road near Kansar on Friday night, leaving more than 10 passengers injured. The accident occurred when the tourist bus, carrying travellers from Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur, hit a pole and rammed into the bridge safety wall before overturning.

According to preliminary information, the tourist vehicle was transporting 17 passengers at the time of the accident. The impact of the collision caused panic among those on board, with several passengers sustaining injuries of varying degrees. Local residents rushed to the spot after hearing the crash and alerted emergency services.

Seven of the injured were shifted to Sambalpur Sadar Hospital for treatment, while the remaining injured passengers were referred to Burla for further medical care. Hospital sources said that some of the injured are under observation, while others are being treated for fractures and other trauma.

Driver Fatigue Suspected

One of the passengers alleged that the accident may have occurred after the driver briefly dozed off. The passenger stated that by the time the driver regained control, the vehicle had already crashed into the bridge structure. The passenger added that the vehicle was a 20-seater and several members of the same family were travelling together. It was also claimed that the passenger’s mother-in-law sustained critical injuries in the accident.

Immediate Help From Passing Ambulance

An ambulance travelling towards Bhubaneswar with a pregnant woman onboard reportedly stopped at the accident site after noticing the overturned vehicle. The ambulance staff provided immediate assistance and helped transport some of the injured passengers to hospital, aiding the rescue efforts before additional emergency vehicles arrived.

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Police launched an inquiry into the incident and were examining the circumstances leading to the accident at the time of the reporting.