Balasore: At least 20 passengers were injured after a bus skidded off a bridge and plunged into a roadside canal on Balasore-Phuladi road near Nuniajodi bridge on the outskirts of Balasore on Tuesday morning.The bus was travelling from Bhograi to Balasore when it collided with a tractor coming from the opposite direction around 9:45 am. The impact caused the bus to break through the bridge railing, and plunge nearly 20 ft into a canal that serves as a drainage outlet of the Budhabalanga river.There were over 40 passengers on board. Some managed to jump onto the road just moments before the bus fell into the water. Local residents, who witnessed the incident, rushed to the scene and bravely entered the muddy waters to rescue trapped passengers through broken windows.Personnel from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services arrived shortly after and joined the rescue efforts.Assistant fire officer (Balasore) Samir Kumar Biswal said, “The passengers were rescued and shifted to the district headquarters hospital in four to five ambulances. No one suffered very serious injuries. The bus driver and helper managed to exit the vehicle. Only one or two passengers sustained relatively serious injuries and are currently under treatment. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.”Sahadevkhunta police, along with emergency officials and administrative officers including the sub-collector and tehsildar, co-ordinated the rescue operation and ensured prompt medical support for the injured.The injured, including five women and two children, were admitted to Balasore district headquarters hospital. The bus driver also sustained significant injuries, including a fractured leg. Sahadevkhunta police are investigating to find out the exact cause of the accident.