Odisha: Major bus accident in Balasore; driver killed, over 20 pilgrims injured.

Odisha: A major road accident occurred in Odisha’s Balasore district on Sunday morning. The incident took place on National Highway-16 within the Soro police station limits, where a bus carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh lost control and crashed. The bus driver died in the accident, while more than 20 passengers were injured.

According to reports, the bus suddenly went out of control and rammed violently into the road divider. The impact was so severe that the driver, K. Venkateshwar (54), died on the spot. Panic ensued among the passengers following the crash, and many sustained serious injuries.

The bus had set out from the Vizianagaram region of Andhra Pradesh with approximately 45 pilgrims to visit various religious sites in West Bengal. The accident occurred while the passengers were returning to Andhra Pradesh from Kolkata after completing their journey. This morning accident turned the pilgrimage into a tragic event.

Locals immediately alerted the police and fire services, prompting the launch of relief and rescue operations. Teams arriving at the scene extricated the injured from the bus and admitted them to the nearby Soro Community Health Center, where they are undergoing treatment. Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility that the driver may have dozed off at the wheel, as the accident occurred in the morning—a time when drowsiness is more likely. However, the police have clarified that the exact cause of the accident will be confirmed only after a thorough investigation.

Traffic in the area was disrupted for a while following the accident but was subsequently brought under control. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation, examining factors such as the bus’s technical condition, driver fatigue, and other potential causes.

This tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over the families of the pilgrims. The administration has issued instructions to ensure the injured receive proper medical care and is continuously monitoring the situation.