Nayagada: The driver of a private bus was killed, and more than 30 passengers were injured, seven of them seriously, after the vehicle crashed into an Arjun tree near Janhipa da Square on National Highway 57 in Baunsiapada under Itamati police limits in Nayagada district Friday afternoon. The deceased was identified as driver Niranjan Swain, 45, of Sanapadar village under Begunia police limits in Khordha district. The bus, bearing registration number OD-02-DC-2735, was carrying more than 50 passengers from Bhubaneswar to Nayagada when it suddenly veered from left to right and crashed into the tree around 2:30pm. The impact left the front portion of the bus badly mangled, with the driver trapped against the steering.
Fire personnel and police rescued passengers trapped inside the bus and shifted 30 injured people to Nayagada District Headquarters Hospital. Seven seriously injured passengers were later shifted to Bhubaneswar after their condition deteriorated.
Police said the reason why the bus suddenly swerved was yet to be ascertained. The driver’s body was recovered after rescuers cut part of the steering mechanism. Nayagada MLA Arun Kumar Sahu, Collector Madhumita Rath and former Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh visited the spot and reviewed the rescue and treatment arrangements. Itamati police registered a case (309/26) and launched an investigation, IIC Priyabrata Rout said.
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