3 killed, 7 injured as truck hits bus from behind in Odisha

The accident took place when some of the 18 picnickers returning from Maa Tarini shrine at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district, got down from the bus to relieve themselves in Balugaon area at about 3 am

Published on: Nov 27, 2021, 10:21:53 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Three picnickers returning home were killed and seven others sustained critical injuries after a speeding truck hit their stationary bus from behind on the national highway in Odisha’s Khurda district early Saturday morning.

The deceased, in the age group of 35-45, have been identified as Loi Das, Ganga Maharana and Asit Behera, all from Gopalpur area of Ganjam district. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Officials said the accident took place when some of the 18 picnickers from Gopalpur area of Ganjam district, returning from Maa Tarini shrine at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district, got down from the bus to relieve themselves at Belapada chhaka under Banapur police station at about 3 am.

“Some of the picnickers stayed in the bus while others went out to relieve themselves. A few moments later, a truck slammed the stationary bus from behind, which resulted in the death of two passengers on the spot and another one at the hospital. Those who had left the bus to relieve themselves were unhurt. The truck driver fled with the truck after the mishap,” said Balugaon sub divisional police officer Manas Barik.

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The deceased were identified as S Loyidas (55), Gangadhar Maharana (45) and Asit Behera (28), all from Gopalpur area of Ganjam district.

A team of fire services personnel rescued the injured and recovered the bodies. The seven who were critically injured have been rushed to MKCG Hospital in Berhampur town. Officials said they were trying to track the truck that hit the bus.

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