Five individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries following a tragic incident where a passenger bus plunged from a flyover in the Jajpur area of Odisha during the night between Monday and Tuesday, according to authorities. The bus, which was traveling from Puri towards West Bengal, met with the accident on Barabati bridge along National Highway-16 around 9 pm, carrying approximately 47 passengers.
Describing the event as regrettable, Jajpur SP Vinit Agarwal mentioned, “This unfortunate incident involved a bus traveling from Puri to West Bengal, carrying about 47 passengers.”
VIDEO | Several injured as bus falls off flyover in Odisha’s Jajpur. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/gmg0EPXRs3
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 15, 2024
The casualties included four men and a woman, while around 40 individuals suffered injuries and were promptly transported to Cuttack SCB Medical College, stated Tapan Kumar Naik, Inspector in-Charge of Dharamshala Police Station, as cited by PTI.
Authorities attributed the accident to the driver’s loss of control over the vehicle.
Expressing condolences, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a compensation of ₹3 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
“I am saddened by the news of the bus accident in Barbati Street area of Jajpur district. My thoughts are with the departed souls and their families. I also wish a speedy recovery to all the injured,” the chief minister conveyed via social media.
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
Amitav Thakur, the Transport Commissioner, disclosed that the bus was headed for Haldia in West Bengal. “A team of medical professionals has been mobilized for treatment. Sixteen ambulances are assisting in transporting the injured, including women and children, to Cuttack. The rescue operation concluded after the bus was lifted using a crane.”
Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector and District Magistrate of Jajpur, informed that gas cutters were utilized to extricate passengers from the bus wreckage.
SP Vinit Agrawal noted that the identities of the deceased are pending confirmation, with most passengers believed to be residents of West Bengal.
