At least four people died and more than 20 sustained injuries after a bus collided head-on with a truck on National Highway-143 near Musabira in Sundargarh district late Tuesday night.
The accident occurred around 9:10 PM when the bus, travelling from Rourkela to Mangalpur in Jajpur district, veered across the divider and crashed into an iron-laden truck.
The impact killed both bus drivers, the helper, and the truck driver instantly. The deceased bus driver was identified as Manas Ranjan Panda, 35, of Mandarkhand village in Dasarathpur block. The second driver, Niranjan Rout, 53, hailed from Purunasahi village in the same block. The bus helper, Shiva Prasad Nayak, 52, from Bajrapat village under Mangalpur panchayat, also lost his life.
The bus conductor, Akshaya Gedi, 47, from Khandara panchayat, suffered critical injuries, including a head wound and a fractured arm. He remains under treatment.
More than 20 passengers sustained injuries, with at least five reported in serious condition. Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical care.
Police launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision. Authorities confirmed that the accident highlighted the dangers of speeding and loss of control on highways.
