BHUBANESWAR: A 10-year-old boy was killed and 17 others sustained injuries after a passenger bus overturned at Baghamari in Khurda district, 40 km from the Capital City on Monday.
The injured were admitted to Khurda district headquarters hospital and two among them, whose condition was critical, were referred to Capital Hospital in the City. The deceased was identified as Akash Dighal.
The incident took place at 3.30 am when the bus driver was negotiating a curve near Baghamari petrol pump. Since the bus was in high speed, the driver lost control and the vehicle skidded off the road and overturned.
Khurda Fire Station received a distress call from one of the passengers following which one fire unit was dispatched for rescue work. Local youths and firemen rescued the injured persons and rushed them to the hospital. The driver and conductor of the ill-fated bus went missing from the mishap spot immediately after the incident. The bus, named Alpha Coach, was travelling from Tikabali block in Phulbani district to Bhubaneswar.
Sources said the driver dozed off while manoeuvring the curve which resulted in the tragic incident. Khurda Town police registered a case in this connection and efforts are on to nab the driver.