Bhubaneswar: At least five persons, including four women, died and more than 40 others sustained injuries after a tourist bus met with an accident near Takeraghat under Daspalla police limits in Odisha’s Nayagarh district late on Friday night.
The deceased included the driver and four passengers identified as Hari Patra, Laxmi Patra, Suprabha Sahu, and Sumati Sahu, according to media reports. All were reportedly residents of Berhampur.
Reports further said the private bus was carrying around 60 passengers from Berhampur to Harishankar on an excursion when the accident occurred at Hanuman Ghati. The driver lost control of the vehicle, following which the bus rammed into a huge rock and overturned.
Police and rescue teams from Daspalla and Banigochha stations, along with fire services and ambulances, rushed to the spot after receiving information. Rescue personnel used gas cutters to extricate trapped passengers.
Authorities shifted the injured to the Daspalla Community Health Centre. Around 15 critically injured persons were later referred to the District Headquarters Hospital for advanced treatment.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the incident.
In a post on X, he conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of every deceased.
