A tragic accident involving two buses in Digapahandi, Ganjam district, has left the community in mourning. Twelve lives were lost, and eight individuals sustained injuries in the head-on collision between an OSRTC bus and a private bus. The injured have been admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 3 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.
The incident occurred when the OSRTC bus, traveling from Gudari, Rayagada, collided with the private bus returning from Berhampur, carrying a marriage party from Khandadeuli village. Witnesses described the severity of the accident, with passengers trapped inside the bus. One survivor expressed gratitude for escaping miraculously, while another mourned the loss of their two younger brothers and the uncertainty their family now faces.
The private bus sustained significant damage, and six passengers, including women and children, lost their lives. Local authorities, including Ganjam Collector Dibyajyoti Parida and Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek, rushed to the hospital to oversee the medical treatment.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda expressed their condolences and offered their support to the affected families. Efforts are being made to provide necessary medical assistance to the injured and ensure a comprehensive response to this tragic event.