Chhendipada: Four persons died and 10 others sustained critical injuries after a bus carrying 14 picnickers collided head-on with a truck on National Highway No.55 near Katada under Jarpada police limits in Angul district in the wee hours of Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Dharani Pradhan, 55, Sibaram Sahoo, 48, of Balasinga, and Arun Sahoo, 45, of Tulasipal and Binay Kumar Sahoo, 30.
The injured were identified as Rabindra Sahoo, 55, Bisweswar Pradhan, 60, Silu (driver), Binay Kumar Sahu, 70, Prasanna Kumar Pradhan, 30, Goura Sahoo, 50, Hadibandhu Sahoo, 50, Maheswar Sahoo, 42, Dharanidhar Pradhan, 55, and Arun Sahoo, 45.
According to reports, the pilgrims had gone to Koraput from Angul. The mishap took place around 1am while they were returning home in a Tata Winger.
Their vehicle collided head-on with a vegetable laden-truck after the driver lost control over the vehicle.
On receipt of information, police reached the spot and took the injured persons to the nearby hospitals.
While six persons were undergoing treatment at Angul hospital, five of them have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after their condition deteriorated.