Mamata Banerjee Mourns Loss of Lives In Odisha’s Jajpur Bus Accident, Rushes Aid

Jajpur: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of five persons, who were killed in a bus accident in Odisha’s Jajpur district last evening.

The deceased were tourists and said to be natives of the neighbouring state.

“Sad to know about the death and injuries of several passengers in a tragic bus accident in Jajpur district of Odisha last night. West Bengal administration has been in rescue and assistance mode from the very beginning. The bus was bound for our state and some of the dead and many of the injured have been ours. West Bengal has been sending officials, materials, ambulances, etc. to the site in Odisha for rescue assistance. Vehicles have been sent to bring back the rescued passengers. Beds have been reserved in Medinipur Medical College,” Mamata posted on X.

She further said that compensation will be paid to the next of kin of the dead and the injured as per rules. “State administration, Paschim Medinipur, and Purba Medinipur district officials are fully involved in relief assistance. Solidarity to my affected brothers and sisters of Purba Medinipur,” she added.

Five persons lost their lives while 38 others were injured as a West Bengal-bound bus skidded off a flyover on National Highway-16 near Barabati in Odisha’s Jajpur district around 9 pm on Monday.

According to SCB sources, 46 passengers were admitted to the hospital between 10 pm on Monday and 3 am on Tuesday. While five with brain injuries have been admitted to ICU, 14 have been admitted to orthopaedic department. The remaining had minor injuries. Some with bone injuries are likely to go under the knife. “Of the five with head injuries, two are unconscious while the other three are out of danger,” a SCB official told the media adding that at least 40 doctors attended to the accident victims on Monday night.

The West Bengal government has sent a team led by Additional District Magistrate West Midnapore Suman Sourav Mohanty to Cuttack. “There are about 32 patients from West Bengal. We will take them back as per the advice of the medical authorities here. The team here is very cooperative,” Mohanty told media.