A passenger bus travelling from Parjang in Dhenkanal district to Bhubaneswar overturned on Friday, leaving more than 20 people injured. The incident took place near Kantiokteni under the jurisdiction of Tumusingha police station.
The ill-fated bus was carrying over 50 passengers when it lost balance and overturned on a muddy canal-side road. According to eyewitness accounts and injured passengers, the bus driver deviated from the regular route and took an
unfamiliar path, which was slippery due to recent rains.
"The driver was not familiar with this canal road. It was narrow, muddy and risky. We requested bus driver to turn back, but he didn’t listen," said one of the injured passengers, speaking from a hospital bed.
Emergency rescue operations were launched immediately. Personnel from the fire services and local villagers rushed to the spot and helped evacuate the injured from the wreckage.