Bus Plunge in Odisha's Koraput Kills One, Injures 20 in Early Morning Tragedy
A devastating road accident in Odisha's Koraput district has resulted in one fatality and left approximately twenty individuals injured after a state-operated bus plunged into a deep gorge during the early hours of Saturday. Local police authorities confirmed the tragic incident, which occurred in the challenging terrain of the Sunki ghat section under Pottangi block around 2:00 AM.
Details of the Catastrophic Accident
The ill-fated Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus was en route from Bhawanipatna to Visakhapatnam in neighboring Andhra Pradesh when it met with disaster near Panasamanagudi village. According to Sunki police station inspector-in-charge Chatrubhuja Nayak, the vehicle veered off National Highway-26 at a sharp bend, plummeting nearly forty feet down the ghat road and overturning in the process.
The violent impact caused passengers to be thrown violently inside the vehicle, with one unfortunate individual becoming trapped beneath the overturned bus. The deceased has been identified as Jambab Bihari, a forty-year-old resident of Balagaon village in Kalampur block of Kalahandi district. He was rescued in critical condition and transported to Pottangi Community Health Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Rescue Operations and Medical Response
Fire personnel from Jeypore and Semiliguda swiftly joined the rescue operation to extract passengers from the wreckage. Medical teams worked diligently to provide immediate care to the injured victims. Four critically injured passengers were transferred to Koraput Medical College and Hospital after receiving initial treatment, while two others were taken to Visakhapatnam through private arrangements for specialized medical attention.
Eyewitness accounts from survivors have begun to emerge, with passenger Bhagirathi Bag, who was seated in the front row, suggesting that "the accident occurred because the driver apparently dozed off." This preliminary observation highlights potential concerns about driver fatigue and road safety protocols on overnight journeys through challenging mountainous terrain.
Investigation and Ongoing Developments
Police authorities have confirmed that a thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the precise causes of this tragic accident. The incident raises significant questions about road safety measures, driver alertness protocols, and infrastructure maintenance along hazardous ghat sections of national highways.
This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with overnight travel through mountainous regions and underscores the importance of enhanced safety measures for long-distance bus operations. The community mourns the loss of Jambab Bihari while praying for the swift recovery of all injured passengers affected by this devastating incident.
