Balasore, June 14: A bus carrying pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh met with a tragic accident on National Highway-16 within the jurisdiction of Soro police station in Odisha's Balasore district early on Sunday, resulting in the death of the driver and injuries to over 20 passengers.
The deceased has been identified as K. Venkateswar (54), who was driving the bus at the time of the incident.
According to preliminary reports, the bus was transporting around 45 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram region who had visited several religious sites in West Bengal. The group was returning home from Kolkata when the vehicle reportedly lost control and crashed into a road divider.
Following alerts from local residents, police and fire services personnel rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured passengers were evacuated and taken to the Soro Community Health Centre for medical treatment.
Initial investigations indicate that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel during the early morning journey. However, authorities have stated that the exact cause of the accident will be determined after a detailed inquiry.
Police have registered a case and begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mishap.
