Nayagarh, August 18: A passenger bus travelling from Daringbadi to Bhubaneswar overturned after hitting a cement barricade on the Nayagarh town bypass in the early hours of Tuesday. The accident occurred at around 3 a.m. between Pandusar and Itamati.

The Om Chakadola bus, carrying more than 40 passengers, reportedly veered off the road and plunged around 30 feet down the roadside after hitting the barricade. The bus is believed to have overturned once.

The Om Chakadola bus, carrying more than 40 passengers, reportedly veered off the road and plunged around 30 feet down the roadside after hitting the barricade. The bus is believed to have overturned once.

While initial reports suggest that the bus may have been travelling at high speed and the driver may have dozed off, the driver gave a different account. He reportedly said that two motorcycles suddenly came close to the bus, and while attempting to avoid them, he lost control of the vehicle.

Following the crash, several passengers broke the bus windows and managed to escape. Fire service personnel and police from Itamati Police Station soon reached the spot and rescued the injured passengers. They were subsequently taken to Nayagarh Medical College and Hospital for treatment.