Bhubaneswar: Police on Tuesday arrested the OSRTC bus driver, who had fled to Bhubaneswar after the horrific crash in which 12 people were killed in Odisha’s Digapahandi the previous day.
The driver has been identified as Manas Pradhan.
According to sources, Pradhan, having fled after the accident, surrender at Bharatpur police station here on Monday. Later, police team from Digapahandi took him into custody. He was also taken to the accident spot, where investigation is on.
Twelve people, including seven of a family, were killed and seven others were severely injured after a minibus collided with a state-run passenger bus near Khemundi college of Digapahandi block in the district around 1 am. People in the private minibus were returning from a wedding in Berhampur. The injured were admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital and Digapahandi hospital and two among them were later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, sources said.
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Those in the OSRTC bus sustained minor injuries.
Ganjam regional transport officer (RTO) Manas Sahu later said that the private bus did not have the requisite permit and insurance to operate at night, although it had a fitness certificate. A report further said the axle of the 25-year-old bus was in a damaged condition.
The driver of the minibus, who luckily survived, said the OSRTC bus was travelling at a very high speed when it collided with it.
Also Read: 25-Year-Old Private Bus Involved In Deadly Accident In Odisha Has No Permit
Expressing deep concern over the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, respectively.
