Berhampur, May 22: A tragic road accident claimed six lives after a passenger bus allegedly rammed into an auto-rickshaw and dragged it for nearly 100 metres at Ladakapalli Chhak under Purushottampur police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Friday.

According to preliminary reports, the mishap occurred near Ladakapalli Chhak when the speeding bus hit the auto-rickshaw and dragged the vehicle for a considerable distance, leaving six persons dead on the spot. Four others sustained critical injuries in the accident.

Following the incident, police and ambulance teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to Kodala Medical for treatment. The condition of the injured is stated to be critical, and officials fear the death toll may rise further.

The bus driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and efforts are underway to trace the vehicle involved.