Dhenkanal, Sept 21: In a tragic incident, around six people died and 25 others are stated to be critical when the private bus they were travelling in came in contact with an 11 KV wire and caught fire at Bhuban in Dhenkanal district on Tuesday.
As per sources, the injured persons were admitted at Bhuban and Dhenkanal hospitals for treatment. Later, eight of them were shifted to SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack as their condition deteriorated.
Reportedly, the ill-fated ‘Sanyasi’ bus was going from Cuttack to Birasal near Kamakhyanagar. The bus had taken a diversion due to a road blockade by locals on NH-53 near Bhuban police station following a truck accident on the main road that caused the death of a home guard. Near Sishumandir Square in Bhuban, the luggage loaded over the bus came in contact with the overhead 11KV live wire due to which around six people in the bus died on the spot. Soon after the incident, the driver of the bus fled from the spot.
After getting to know about the incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep sorrow and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for kin of each deceased. He also announced that the medical treatment of the injured would be provided free of cost and the State Government would bear the medical expenses.
Also, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) declared Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia each to the kin of the deceased.
