The tragic bus accident in Odisha's Jajpur district, which claimed the lives of at least five people and left 40 others injured, has been attributed primarily to the "negligence" of the driver, according to a senior transport department official.
Lal Mohan Sethi, the Additional Commissioner of Transport (Road Safety), made this determination following a preliminary investigation conducted at the accident site. The incident occurred when a West Bengal-bound passenger bus from Puri veered off the flyover at Baraabati in Jajpur district on Monday evening.
Sethi noted that the bus was in good condition, having been registered in 2020, and its fitness certificate was issued in March 2024. However, he indicated that the accident could have been caused by factors such as rash driving, overtaking from the left side, or the driver using a mobile phone while driving.
The official further stated that the driver failed to apply brakes, resulting in the bus plunging off the 15-foot-high bridge. He clarified that there were no engineering deficiencies, as proper barricades and signage were in place on the flyover. A criminal case will be filed against the driver in connection with the incident.
At the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, where the injured were taken, authorities reported that 46 individuals were brought in from the accident site, with 19 currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Of the injured, five were in the ICU, with two listed in critical condition.
While the identities of the deceased victims were yet to be confirmed, it was noted that most of the passengers hailed from neighboring West Bengal. In response to the tragedy, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 3 lakh ex-gratia for the families of each deceased person and free treatment for the injured.
