Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday expressed grief over the death of pilgrims from Odisha in Jharkhand and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families who have lost a member in the accident.
The accident took place late Saturday night near Bahimar ghat at Katkamsandi in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag when the bus was en route to Mayurbhanj from Varanasi. Four persons, including three women, reportedly died on the spot after the head-on collision between the bus and a speeding truck. Two among them have been identified as Manu Behera and Menka Pradhan from Kaniha in Angul district.
According to a CMO release, Naveen had also directed for proper treatment of the injured. The injured were admitted to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital in Hazaribagh for immediate treatment.
The bus was carrying passengers from Angul, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj.
The state government is also in touch with its Jharkhand counterpart to ensure that the natives of Odisha are able to reach home at the earliest, it added.
