When speed kills: Ama bus mishaps, Thar SUV crashes expose a safety crisis in Bhubaneswar

In Odisha, particularly the bustling streets of Bhubaneswar, road accidents have crossed from tragedy into a grim pattern of preventable loss. Some see ‘Ama bus’ vehicles, meant to serve the masses, and Mahindra Thar SUVs, symbols of youthful bravado, as a cause for concern these days.

Also Read: Around 15 persons die every day due to road mishaps: Odisha Minister

Each road mishap linked to Ama bus or Thar isn't isolated bad luck- it's a symptom of deeper failures, unchecked speeding, zero accountability, and a culture that treats roads like racetracks. The toll is heartbreaking, and it's time to call it what it is- a crisis fuelled by indifference.

Ama Buses Unfolded Tragedy After Tragedy

One of the most shocking Ama bus incidents occurred on January 4, 2026, at Rupali Square in Bhubaneswar. A speeding Ama bus rammed into a stationary auto-rickshaw waiting at a red light of the traffic post, crushing it against a college bus ahead. The auto driver died instantly, as did a woman passenger, while others suffered injuries. Eyewitnesses described the bus barrelling through without braking, the driver fleeing the scene afterwards. This wasn't a momentary lapse; it was blatant disregard for lives in a crowded urban junction.

Another Ama bus tragedy unfolded on January 23, 2026, along the busy Janpath road. The bus collided with a motorcycle at high speed around 2.15 PM, leaving the rider gravely injured and rushed to Capital Hospital. What followed was chaos- an angry mob vandalised three buses, pelting stones and blocking traffic, turning a collision into a law-and-order breakdown.

Earlier patterns persist too. In 2025, several other such mishaps linked to Ama bus also came to the fore. Over 25 such crashes since mid-2024 have killed at least 10 people and injured dozens more. These aren’t just anomalies; they’re a systemic failure where public transport operators seem to prioritise speed over safety. Thankfully, the Odisha government is now considering proper training for the Ama bus drivers to avoid such mishaps, especially on the busy streets of Bhubaneswar.

“These are not accidents anymore; they are predictable outcomes. Overspeeding, poor enforcement, and social acceptance of reckless driving are killing people on Odisha’s roads. It must be stopped with stricter enforcement of norms,” said a local.

The Mahindra Thar Fear in Odisha

Mahindra Thar crashes tell an equally disturbing story of ‘youthful recklessness’. In August 2025, near Patrapada locality during Raksha Bandhan celebrations, a speeding white Thar, allegedly racing another vehicle, struck a family crossing the road. Eight-year-old Reshma Roul died on the spot. Her mother, Rebati Roul, and young brother were critically injured; tragically, Rebati succumbed days later on August 11 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. 

The hit-and-run had sparked highway blockades and outrage, with the vehicle eventually seized and arrests made, including a liquor trader's son and a bank manager. A child's life was extinguished for a thrill ride.

The nightmare repeated in January 2026. Within a mere 24 hours, two separate incidents involving Thar claimed four young lives. Late one evening, a speeding Thar rammed into a stationary trawler truck on NH-16 at Pitapalli Chhak, killing three youths in their 20s as the SUV mangled beyond recognition from excessive speed, reportedly over 100 km/h. Earlier that day or the previous, another Thar struck a motorcycle near Capital Hospital Square, claiming an 18- or 19-year-old rider and injuring others. These back-to-back horrors exposed how easily bravado turns deadly.

“Thar drivers think the road is a reel-making zone. Stunts, speeding, loud music- it’s scary. One mistake and families are destroyed forever,” rued another resident.

Additional reports of drunken youths performing stunts on Thars in areas like Mancheswar, climbing roofs, obscuring plates, causing chaos, only compound the issue. Police seize vehicles, but the pattern continues.

Odisha's roads demand more than condolences. Every life lost, to a speeding bus or a joyriding SUV, is a failure of responsibility. Drivers must face consequences, authorities must enforce rules without exception, and society must reject the normalisation of recklessness.