A private bus carrying around 30 people fell off a bridge near Cuttack, killing 12 and injuring several people
New Delhi: At least 12 people were killed and 50 were injured when a bus fell into the river Mahanadi from a bridge near Jagatpur, Odisha. The horrific incident happened on the outskirts of Cuttack on Tuesday evening.
It was a private bus that was plying from Cuttack to Talcher. Police say, it crashed into the railing of the bridge and plunged down into the riverbed. Police have confirmed that it plunged 30 feet down.
Eye witnesses suggest the bus lost control when it hit a buffalo. The buffalo was immediately killed and its body was later recovered.
Meanwhile, rescue operations started in full swing.
Fire brigade personnel, as well as the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), was pressed into action. Rescue boats were also employed in the river. The injured were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik expressed grief and announced compensation ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh each to next of the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured.
Meanwhile condolences started pouring in from all across the political spectrum.