Odisha: 2 killed, 30 injured as tourists bus plunges into a canal in Dhenkanal

The driver lost control of the bus carrying 47 passengers when it plunged into a canal, in Odisha's Dhenkanal during the small hours on Monday.

Dhenkanal:Two persons were killed and 30 sustained injuries when the bus they were traveling in fell off a bridge and plunged into a canal on the roadside near Panchubati under Sadar police limits in Dhenkanal district. The incident took place at around 4 am on Monday.

According to the police, the bus driver lost control crashed into the bridge railing before the vehicle dived into the canal while he was negotiating a construction work on the bridge. The deceased have been identified as Renubala Jena and Bijayalakshmi Swain. Both are residents of Ichhapur village in Kendrapara district. The bus was returning to Kendrapara after visiting Harishan, Narasinghath, and Sambalpur Samalei Temples.

They were part of a group of passengers who were on a tour to Bolangir and Sambalpur from Icchapur. The injured were taken to the Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital for treatment. 10 injured were referred to SCB Hospital in Cuttack as their condition condition warranted further care.

"There were 47 passengers traveling in this bus. All the passenger were from Ichpur, Jangulipada and Barang Sahir of Kendrapada District. The passengers had gone for a tour to Bolangir and Sambalpur from Ichhapur village in Kendrapara district. The driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell into the canal," said a police official.

Locals alleged that it was due to the negligence of NHAI that this accident has happened. "The authorities should've put a sign board where the construction work was going on. The bus was also speeding," they said. People also blocked the roads in protest against the National Highway authorities.