Odisha: 20 killed, 30 injured in bus accident; CM Patnaik orders free treatment

At least 20 people were killed and more than 30 reported to be critically injured when a bus they were travelling in fell off a bridge in Odisha's Angul district on 9 September.

The mishap took place near Deulijhari when the bus from Boudh to Athamallik fell from a bridge at Puruna Manitri, DGP KB Singh said.

While 20 people, including four women, were killed, 30 others sustained serious injuries in the accident, Singh said.

The injured were rushed to a hospital at Athamallik where the condition of many was stated to be critical, said Angul District Collector Anil Kumar Samal, who reached the spot to supervise rescue operations.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock at the incident and directed the district administration and police officials to take immediate steps for medical treatment of the injured persons.

The CM directed that the injured be provided medical treatment free of cost, officials said.

Several students of Athamallik college were also travelling in the bus, they said.

It was not immediately clear how the bus fell off the bridge, but the driver appeared to have lost control over the vehicle, they said.

-With PTI inputs