The Commissionerate Police has arrested the driver of a night coach bus involved in a horrific hit-and-run accident on the Nayapalli-CRP Square stretch in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The police have also seized the vehicle.
The arrested driver has been identified as Naushad Ali (59), a native of the Nimapada area in Puri district, currently residing at Mahadev Nagar in Jharpada under the Laxmisagar police limits. Following his arrest, Ali was produced before a local court today. After his bail plea was rejected, he was remanded to judicial custody.
According to Nayapalli police, a case (No. 877/2026) was registered based on a complaint filed by Yudhisthira Mandal, husband of the deceased Jhuna Mandal. Jhuna was a resident of Patna village under the Kantilo police jurisdiction in Nayagarh district.
The tragic incident occurred around 6:00 AM on Sunday along the Jayadev Vihar–CRP Square route in front of Krishna Tower. A speeding Dolphin bus coming from Kolkata first crashed into a concrete structure and two vehicles parked on the left side of the road. Continuing its uncontrolled streak, the bus hit Sunita Meher and Pradeep Jena before running over two female pedestrians—Jhuna Mandal and Geetanjali Rana.
Jhuna and Geetanjali died on the spot due to the impact. The driver fled the scene immediately after the crash.
Investigation reveals that Jhuna lived in Trinath Basti, located in the IRC Village area of Nayapalli, and worked as a domestic help to support her family. She was on her way from her home to Behera Sahi for work when the tragic accident took place.
The two injured victims—Geetanjali’s companion Sunita Meher from Bargarh district and Pradeep Jena from Puri district—sustained severe injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
