Rourkela, April 29: A tragic road accident took place on National Highway 143 near Musabira under Chandiposh police station limits on Tuesday evening, after a passenger bus traveling from Rourkela to Jajpur Town collided with a trailer.

According to reports, the passenger bus “Pramila” (OD-35A-2169) departed from Sector-2 Biju Patnaik Square in Rourkela at around 6:40 PM, carrying passengers towards Jajpur. The accident occurred when the bus, reportedly moving on the wrong side of the highway, crashed head-on into an oncoming trailer (OD-14AB-8226) near Musabira.

The collision was severe, leaving the bus driver trapped inside the cabin. Two persons died at the scene, while the trailer driver later succumbed to injuries, increasing the death toll. The identities of the deceased have not yet been established.

More than 30 passengers were injured in the accident. Police personnel from Chandiposh and Lahunipada reached the spot and shifted the injured to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) by ambulance.

Fire service teams are engaged in rescuing the trapped driver. Rescue operations were still in progress at the time of filing this report.