Bhubaneswar: At least three persons were killed and about 40 passengers of a bus injured, some of them critically, when the vehicle collided head-on with a ten-wheeler truck at Katarapada near Nischintakoili on Cuttack-Chandabali road on Tuesday.
The injured passengers were also rushed to Nischintakoili health centre for treatment. Three of them have been shifted to Cuttack as their condition worsened.
According to reports, the private bus named ‘Manorama’ carrying around 60 passengers was on its way to Cuttack from Kendrapara. The vehicle hit a truck coming from the opposite direction due to dense fog.
The bus and truck drivers, who were trapped in the mangled vehicles, have been rescued with the help of gas cutters. Their condition is stated to be critical. They have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Fire service personnel, police and local people rescued the passengers from the bus. The passengers include some children who were rescued unharmed, reports said.
The front parts of both vehicles have been destroyed completely.
Vehicular traffic was disrupted on the route due to heavy crowds on the road after the mishap. Police are trying to clear the road.
The accident took place due to suspected low visibility amid dense fog in the morning.