Panic gripped students and parents after a Mahamaya Public School bus hit an elderly woman while she was riding a bicycle near Chanmunda and Khairani villages, leaving her critically injured.
Eyewitnesses said the woman suffered severe bleeding from her nose and mouth after the collision. Her identity has not yet been confirmed. She was rushed to Nuapada District Hospital in critical condition by a 108 ambulance.
The bus, carrying schoolchildren, veered off the road into nearby farmland after the accident. In a shocking turn, the driver abandoned the bus and fled, leaving the students behind. Parents rushed to the spot after receiving news and took their children home safely.
Local residents reported that the driver’s irresponsible act created panic among the children. They also expressed anger that the driver left the bus unattended, putting students at risk.
The bus was later pulled out of the farmland with the help of a JCB machine. Parents highlighted that children from the area regularly travel to Mahamaya Public School by bus, and such negligence has raised serious safety concerns.
Authorities are investigating the incident, and parents have demanded strict action against the driver and stronger safety measures for school transport.
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