Berhampur: Negligence on the part of the OSRTC bus driver led to the bus crash near Digapahandi in Odisha’s Ganjam district in which 12 lives were lost, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek informed on Tuesday.
“Though alcohol test of both drivers has come out negative, the accident occurred due to irresponsible driving by the government bus driver. He was over-speeding and had dozed off,” the SP said, citing preliminary investigation report.
The accused driver, Manas Pradhan, who had fled the accident spot, surrendered at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar and taken into custody by the Digapahandi police for questioning this morning. He was later arrested.
Twelve people, including seven of a family, were killed and seven others were severely injured after a minibus collided with the 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 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.
