Bhubaneswar: 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian on Tuesday visited the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack to meet people who are undergoing treatment at SCB after sustaining severe injuries in a bus accident near Barabati Chhak in Jajpur district.
Notably, at least five persons were killed and 30 persons were injured when the bus in which they were travelling skidded off the flyover and fell 20 feet below near Barabati chhak in Jajpur district today evening.
Concerned over the tragic mishap, Pandian left for SCB Medical College and Hospital in the early Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation and met the injured.
Pandian was informed that as many as 46 patients were rushed to the casualty of the state’s premier hospital last night out of which 27 injured have been discharged so far. However, five are being treated at the ICU as their conditions are critical.
Pandian, meanwhile, has instructed the doctors and medical team to provide free treatment and medicines to the survivors of the bus accident.
He also thanked the doctors’ team for their providing round-the-clock service to the patients.
Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvic Biswal, Cuttack Collector Arindam Dakua, Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, Jajpur Collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Jajpur Superintendent of Police and SCB Superintendent Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra were present at SCB during Pandian’s visit.
Talking to the media, Additional Commissioner Transport Lal Mohan Sethi held the driver responsible for the accident.
“The accident might have occurred due to rash driving. Or the driver might be busy talking over the phone while driving which led to the unfortunate mishap. Besides, chances of overtaking a vehicle by the driver cannot be ruled out as one of the reasons behind the mishap,” said Sethi adding that “The bus was in good condition, having been registered in 2020 and recently cleared for fitness in March.”
It is pertinent to note that the bus named ‘Kalia Nana’ which was on its way to Digha in West Bengal from Puri skidded off the flyover and fell 20 feet below near Barabati chhak in Jajpur district after its driver lost control over the wheel.
