Bangladeshi tourist killed, 15 hurt in bus accident on way to Puri | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: One woman passenger died and 15 sustained injuries when a bus, with 65 Bangladeshi tourists on board, met with an accident at Uttara Chowk, on way to Puri, early on Sunday. The accident took place as the drowsy bus driver reportedly allowed his untrained helper to take control of the vehicle, which went on to hit a divider and then overturned.
The deceased passenger was identified as Nonibala Nath (60) from Noakhali in Bangladesh. Among the injured taken to Capital Hospital, 11 were discharged on Sunday afternoon, while four women remain hospitalised, but in stable condition.
Police reported that both the driver and helper fled the scene. An injured tourist, Barada Baidya, said, “We were travelling to Puri. The driver was tired and decided to take some rest. He allowed his helper to drive the bus. The helper rammed the bus on to the divider. He lost control and steered the vehicle into a roadside canal. Fortunately, the canal did not have much water. Most of the passengers were sleeping when the bus overturned after veering off the road.”
The incident occurred at around 2.30 am near the Puri-Bhubaneswar border. The location, though very close to Bhubaneswar, falls under Pipili police jurisdiction in Puri district.
Soumyendu Tripathy, inspector in-charge of Pipili police station, said, “We have identified the bus driver and helper, who fled after the accident. They will be arrested soon. Our immediate priority was to rescue the tourists and shift them to hospital. Locals helped us in rescuing the passengers from the overturned bus.” Tripathy said Nonibala’s death occurred in Capital Hospital.
The tourists, aged between 60 and 70 years, besides some younger members, had arranged two buses from a Kolkata-based travel agency for their trip to Puri. The tourists were from Bandarban, Faridpur, Gazipur, Madaripur, Rangamati, Satkhira and Noakhali areas of Bangladesh.
Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has ordered an inquiry by the regional transport office (Puri) regarding the circumstances leading to the accident. “Govt ensured timely treatment of the injured passengers. Alternate bus arrangement has been made to transport the Bangladeshi tourists to Puri,” Jena said.
The deceased passenger was identified as Nonibala Nath (60) from Noakhali in Bangladesh. Among the injured taken to Capital Hospital, 11 were discharged on Sunday afternoon, while four women remain hospitalised, but in stable condition.
Police reported that both the driver and helper fled the scene. An injured tourist, Barada Baidya, said, “We were travelling to Puri. The driver was tired and decided to take some rest. He allowed his helper to drive the bus. The helper rammed the bus on to the divider. He lost control and steered the vehicle into a roadside canal. Fortunately, the canal did not have much water. Most of the passengers were sleeping when the bus overturned after veering off the road.”
The incident occurred at around 2.30 am near the Puri-Bhubaneswar border. The location, though very close to Bhubaneswar, falls under Pipili police jurisdiction in Puri district.
Soumyendu Tripathy, inspector in-charge of Pipili police station, said, “We have identified the bus driver and helper, who fled after the accident. They will be arrested soon. Our immediate priority was to rescue the tourists and shift them to hospital. Locals helped us in rescuing the passengers from the overturned bus.” Tripathy said Nonibala’s death occurred in Capital Hospital.
The tourists, aged between 60 and 70 years, besides some younger members, had arranged two buses from a Kolkata-based travel agency for their trip to Puri. The tourists were from Bandarban, Faridpur, Gazipur, Madaripur, Rangamati, Satkhira and Noakhali areas of Bangladesh.
Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has ordered an inquiry by the regional transport office (Puri) regarding the circumstances leading to the accident. “Govt ensured timely treatment of the injured passengers. Alternate bus arrangement has been made to transport the Bangladeshi tourists to Puri,” Jena said.
