Odisha: 12 killed, 49 injured as bus skids off bridge in Cuttack

The accident took place when the bus collided with a buffalo (Twitter/ANI)

At least 12 people were killed and 49 injured after a bus crashed into the railing of a bridge near Jagatpur on the outskirts of Cuttack city on Tuesday evening and plunged 30 feet into the Mahanadi riverbed, reports PTI. The private bus was on its way to Cuttack from Talcher, they said. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the bus lost control when a buffalo came in front of it and the vehicle fell into the dry riverbed.

Policemen from Cuttack, along with fire brigade personnel and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), rushed to the accident site to rescue the trapped passengers. Chief Fire Officer Sukant Sethy said all the passengers trapped inside the bus have been rescued and they were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Emergency officer of SCB Medical College and Hospital B N Maharana said they have received 12 bodies. Among the deceased nine were men and three woman.  Forty-nine people were undergoing treatment at the hospital, Maharana said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the accident and has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to next of kin of the deceased and free treatment of those injured.

CM @Naveen_Odisha expressed deep concern over falling off of a passenger bus from Mahanadi bridge. He directed minister @chandra_sarathi to rush to the spot & ensure treatment for injured, @osdma @CuttackDM & Fire Services to expedite rescue operation

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) November 20, 2018

-With inputs from PTI