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3 killed, 40 injured as bus rams into truck in Odisha due to fog

A private bus carrying around 60 passengers was on its way to Cuttack from Kendrapara when it hit a a truck coming from the opposite direction due to dense fog at Nischintakoili area of Cuttack

Updated on: Jan 2, 2024, 12:58:34 IST
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At least three persons were killed and 40 others were injured after a bus and a truck rammed into each other due to dense fog in Odisha’s Cuttack district on Tuesday morning, people familiar with the matter said.l

The drivers of the bus and truck had to be rescued after cutting open the mangled metal with gas cutters. (Representative Image)
The drivers of the bus and truck had to be rescued after cutting open the mangled metal with gas cutters. (Representative Image)

Officials said a private bus named ‘Manorama’ carrying around 60 passengers was on its way to Cuttack from Kendrapara when it hit a a truck coming from the opposite direction due to dense fog at Nischintakoili area of Cuttack. The front parts of both vehicles were completely damaged.

Three persons travelling in the bus were killed while the drivers of the bus and truck have been admitted to hospital in critical condition. The two drivers had to be rescued after cutting open the mangled metal with gas cutters. A passenger in the bus said people were thrown off their seats. “The passengers sitting at the front of the bus were stuck in the mangled metals,” he said.

Though the exact reason behind the accident has not been ascertained yet, it is suspected that dense fog and the resultant reduction of visibility might have caused the mishap, people familiar with the matter said.

The emergency officer of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where some of the patients were admitted, said four patients have been admitted to the Trauma Casualty till now. “All of them have multiple injuries. Doctors from Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery and Surgery are conducting an investigation following which treatment will start,” he said.

  • Debabrata Mohanty
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Debabrata Mohanty

    Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More