Odisha tragedy: 5 killed, several injured as bus falls off flyover

Odisha tragedy: In a horrific and dreadful incident, five killed and several injured after passenger bus fell from  flyover in Odisha's Jajpur late on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. 

The tragic incident unfolded at around 9 pm on Barabati bridge along National Highway-16. As per the officials, the unfortunate event transpired while the bus was en route to West Bengal from Puri with around 47 passengers.

#WATCH | Odisha: 5 people died and many injured after a bus fell from flyover in Jajpur. pic.twitter.com/4riCIzVrvY — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2024

"This unfortunate incident happened with a bus which was going from Puri towards West Bengal, there were around 42 to 43 passengers on the bus," Jajpur SP Vinit Agarwal said.

The injured have been referred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.

#WATCH | Vinit Agarwal, SP, Jajpur says, "This unfortunate incident happened with a bus which was going from Puri towards West Bengal, there were around 42-43 passengers on the bus. Around 35 people have been referred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack. As per the latest… https://t.co/yL0Gkm1Y1n pic.twitter.com/L1T7wyP9Wm — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2024

“Driver may be intoxicated”: Eyewitness 

An eyewitness from the local area suggested that the driver may have been intoxicated. 

"While we were at the nearby bus stand, we observed the bus driver behaving recklessly, swerving the bus erratically. It appeared to us that the driver was consuming alcohol while operating the vehicle," stated the witness.

Meanwhile, rescue efforts are currently underway at the accident site, with fire services personnel and local residents actively involved.

Meanwhile, expressing sorrow over the fatalities, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh each for the families of the deceased in the tragic incident.

ଯାଜପୁର ଜିଲ୍ଲା ବାରବାଟୀ ଛକ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଯାତ୍ରୀବାହୀ ବସ୍ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଏହି ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଥିବା ମୃତକଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି। ଏଥିସହ ସମସ୍ତ ଆହତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁ ଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି। — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 15, 2024

Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Shibasish Moharana also said, "In the unfortunate accident, 5 people succumbed. 38 injured were transferred SCB Medical College, Cuttack. Out of 38, one is seriously injured." 

- With inputs from agencies

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