Boudh, Dec 31: At least three tourists were seriously injured and 15 others sustained minor injuries after a tourist bus met with an accident on National Highway-57 under the Boudh Adarsh police station limits on Tuesday.

According to sources, the bus was travelling along the Raithani–Sarsara road when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The bus hit a large roadside tree and plunged off the road. The vehicle was carrying around 18 tourists from the Banapur area of Khordha district, who were on their way to Sambalpur for darshan of Maa Samaleswari.

Following the accident, all the injured passengers were rushed to the Boudh District Headquarters Hospital. After receiving primary treatment, the tourists were sent back to their respective places in another vehicle.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the accident may have occurred after the driver reportedly dozed off while driving. Police from Boudh Adarsh police station reached the spot and have launched a detailed investigation into the incident.