18 dead, 30 injured as private bus falls from bridge near Athmallick in Odisha

09 September, Angul (odisha)

In a tragic incident, at least 18 passengers were killed and 30 others injured, some of them critically, when a over crowded passenger bus fell off a bridge near Purunamanitri in Angul district Friday.

The passenger bus was on its way from Boudh to Athmallick, when the accident took place at about 0930 hours. Eyewitnesses said the driver lost control over the wheels when the bus was on the bridge following which it fell form a height of fifty feet.

The critically injured passengers are being air lifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital , Cuttack for treatment by an air-ambulance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a twit expressed grief over the tragic incident .

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the tragic incident and announced exgratia at the rate of Rs.2 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased.

Patnaik also announced that the state government will bear the medical expenses of the injured passengers who were shifted to the Athmallick and Angul Hospital for treatment by ambulance and other means of transport.

Patnaik also directed the Angul district Collector and the Superintendent of Police to rush to the spot and supervise the rescue operation.

Police, local administration and local people are engaged in the rescue operation and helping in shifting the injured people to the hospital. The incident has sent a shock wave in the district.

Official sources said so far the bodies are not identified and the district administration is planning to shift the seriously injured passengers to the Burla Medical College and Hospital.