Bhubaneswar: At least five school students were injured after an autorickshaw carrying them collided with an Ama Bus in Pitapalli area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Friday.
According to sources, the accident took place around 10 am near Pitapalli fuel station. The Ama Bus was travelling from Khordha towards Bhubaneswar Railway Station when the collision occurred. The injured students were rushed to the Khordha District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for treatment. The autorickshaw driver also sustained grievous injury in the collision and is undergoing treatment, sources said.
Tension prevailed in the area following the accident as a large number of people gathered at the site, voicing concern over the safety of students. A team of police personnel immediately visited the site and brought the situation under control, ensuring smooth traffic on the road.
Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates Ama Bus service, said it responded promptly to the road accident. The Ama Bus was moving at a slow speed, when an autorickshaw travelling in the wrong direction on the service road reportedly collided with the left side of the bus, it claimed.
Immediately after the incident, the Ama Bus Captain attempted to assist the injured autorickshaw driver and passengers. CRUT’s Operations and Technical teams, along with local authorities, reached the site without delay and coordinated emergency response measures.
The injured school children of the autorickshaw were shifted to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. The Bus Captain also sustained injuries while assisting at the accident site and is receiving necessary medical care.
CRUT officials ensured that all passengers on board the bus were safe and provided the required assistance. The affected bus was secured and operational arrangements were made to minimise inconvenience to commuters, CRUT said in a statement.
A preliminary assessment indicates that the Ama Bus was moving at a controlled speed, while the auto driver seemed to be absent-minded and had therefore had a head-on collision with the bus, further investigation by the competent authorities is under process.