KENDRAPARA : Two persons were killed and 22 passengers injured after a bus fell into a ditch at Arjunpur village under Patkura police limits of Kendrapara district on Friday.
The bus, with around 40 passengers, was on its way to Korua from Cuttack when the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp turn. The bus rolled down the steep road and fell into a ditch killing two passengers on the spot. Nine critically injured passengers were rushed to SCB Medical, Cuttack after primary treatment in District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
The deceased are Priyadutta Mahali (18) , a college student, and Rajesh Nayak (24), a daily wager of Korua. The bus driver managed to escape, said Sub- Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Kendrapara, Kedarnath Sahoo.
An injured Suvasmita Nayak (22) of Jaharabarumula village, who is being treated at DHH at Kendrapara, said the driver was riding the vehicle at high speed before it overturned. Bus conductor Purnachandra Swain (45), whose both legs were fractured in the accident, is undergoing treatment in DHH.
Surendra Mishra, a teacher of Lokanath College, Korua said eight students of the college sustained injuries.
The loud thud of the bus drew the attention of the locals who rushed to help. The critically injured were trapped in the bus and it took over an hour to rescue them.
Road Transport Officer (RTO) of Kendrapara, Nikhil Kumar Patnaik, said, “The bus has fitness certificate to run up to January 7, 2017. We will examine the bus on the spot”.
District administration has announced financial assistance of `two lakh each to the family of the deceased.