Nayagarh: Fifteen persons suffered injuries after a bus they were travelling in caught fire after hitting a road divider near Phalpadu village under Banigochha police limits in Nayagarh district late Sunday night. The ill-fated bus was carrying 30 patients from Harbhanga locality in Boudh district after they had undergone eye surgery at the Sai Seva Sadan Hospital at Kuhudi in Khurda district.
The mishap occurred when the driver of the bus lost control and crashed against the road divider and flames erupted from its bottom. However, instead of trying to save the passengers, the driver and the helper fled the spot.
Locals rushed to the spot and rescued the injured passengers and got them admitted to the Daspalla and Banigochha health centres. The condition of all the patients was stated to be stable.
Locals informed that despite being informed promptly, personnel from the Daspalla fire station arrived at the accident spot two hours later. This sparked tension among the locals who said that the delay could have led to the loss of lives. Police also reached the spot and launched an investigation. Efforts are on to trace the driver and the helper of the vehicle.
PNN/Agencies