Khordha, June 15: At least seven people were injured after a private passenger bus overturned on National Highway-16 near Pitapalli in Khordha district on Saturday afternoon.
The accident occurred on the Khordha-Berhampur stretch of the highway. According to initial reports, a steering failure may have caused the crash while the bus was traveling from Bhubaneswar to Aska.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bus began swerving uncontrollably to the left before crashing into a highway barrier and overturning. The vehicle was carrying nearly 50 passengers at the time. The impact severely damaged the front of the bus, with one axle completely broken.
Local residents were quick to respond, rushing to the scene and helping to pull trapped passengers out through broken windows and the shattered windshield. Several individuals were stuck inside and were freed with assistance from bystanders.
Emergency personnel soon arrived, and the injured—estimated to be between five and seven—were transported to Khordha District Hospital. Their exact condition is not yet known.
The accident caused a temporary traffic blockade on the busy national highway. Authorities later used cranes to remove the wreckage and clear the road.
