Baripada: Five persons, including two women, were killed while 41 others were injured when a bus collided with a tractor on National Highway-49 at Kheran Chhak, five km away from Badampahad police station in Mayurbhanj district Tuesday.
According to reports, a private passenger bus (OR09M-8825) was on its way from Rairangpur to Jashipur. It collided head-on with a tractor (OD11A-3045) going from Badampahad to Hatabadada.
Tractor driver Jitu Pingua (23) hailing from Sakhajuria died on the spot. Among the bus passengers, who died on the spot were, Purnima Soren (50) of Seleigutu village, Debraj Lohar (45) of Karadiha village and Sapna Mohant (18) of Chhanua village.
Residents from nearby villages rescued the injured passengers with the help of the police and rushed 34 of them to the Rairangpur hospital. Seven injured persons were admitted to PRM Medical College and Hospital, police said.
Angry over the mishap, the locals blocked the Rairangpur-Jashipur road for some time.
Sub-divisional police officer of Rairangpur, Mohanpani Karua, said efforts were on to identify the other deceased.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the bereaved families. PNN
