Two killed, nine injured as Kolkata-bound bus rams into truck near Jaleswar toll gate

Two people died, and nine received severe injuries when a Kolkata-bound passenger bus rammed into a stationary truck from behind near the Lakshmannath toll gate in Jaleswar under Balasore district.

The accident reportedly occurred around 2 am on Wednesday. Sources reported that the impact was severe enough to completely crush the front portion of the bus, leaving the driver and helper dead on the spot.

Sources reported that the private bus was carrying over 60 passengers from Odisha to Kolkata’s Babughat when the collision took place on National Highway-16. The passengers were reportedly asleep when the accident occurred.

Multiple Passengers Injured; Rescue Operations Conducted

Following the crash, local police from Jaleswar Police Station and fire services personnel rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured passengers were immediately shifted to the Jaleswar Community Health Centre (CHC).

According to official sources, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, of whom two have been shifted to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital for advanced treatment. The remaining injured are undergoing medical care at local facilities.

"We were en route to Kolkata from Jajpur. At about 2 am, there was a loud bang and jolt. Many of us fell down and received injuries. When we moved out of the bus, we saw that it had hit a truck,” said a passenger on the ill-fated bus.

Eyewitnesses said the collision occurred due to poor visibility and possibly high speed, though police have yet to confirm the exact cause.

ALSO READ: 3 dead, 2 injured in separate road accidents in Odisha

Police Probe Underway

The Jaleswar police have initiated an investigation into the fatal accident. Preliminary findings suggest the bus may have failed to notice the truck ahead in time while moving through a dimly lit stretch of the highway.

Authorities are also verifying the vehicle’s fitness certificate and the driver’s credentials. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination, and their identities are being confirmed for notification to their families.