A routine Friday afternoon turned chaotic on the bustling Janpath road in Odisha’s capital when an AMA Bus collided with a motorcycle, triggering public fury and large-scale vandalism.
The accident occurred 2.15 PM when the city bus allegedly rammed into the bike at high speed, leaving the rider gravely injured. The victim was immediately rushed to Capital Hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses claimed the bus was being driven recklessly, a recurring complaint against Mo Bus operators.
In the wake of the crash, an enraged crowd gathered at the spot, accusing the driver of negligence. The mob first targeted the accident-involved bus, shattering its windows and causing extensive damage. The vandalism quickly escalated, spreading to two other Mo Buses in the vicinity — bringing the total to three vehicles damaged. One passenger inside one of the buses sustained minor injuries from flying glass shards.
Fearing retaliation, the driver and conductor of the offending bus abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene, intensifying the tension.
Traffic on the vital Janpath artery came to a standstill for some time amid the uproar. Capital Police rushed to the spot, and Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagamohan Meena personally arrived to pacify the crowd and restore order.
Condemning the vandalism as an “anti-social act,” DCP Meena assured strict action against the perpetrators. “No one can take the law into their own hands by vandalising public property, even citing an accident as justification. We will identify and punish those responsible using CCTV footage and mobile videos. One person has already been detained,” he stated. The damaged buses have been impounded, and a thorough investigation is underway.
The incident has reignited debates over road safety in the capital and the performance of AMA Buses, managed by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT). Locals have long complained of overspeeding and rash driving by some operators. CRUT officials announced the formation of a special committee to probe the accident and promised stern measures if the driver is found at fault, including enhanced training and safety protocols.
This is the second AMA Bus-related incident in Bhubaneswar this month, following a fatal crash at Rupali Square on January 3 that claimed one life. Public demands for stricter enforcement and accountability from transport authorities are growing louder.
