A passenger bus named Dilkhus rammed into a truck near Luhamunda under Handapa police station in Angul district between 2 and 3 am on Friday, killing one person and injuring 15 others.
The bus was travelling from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda when the accident occurred. The impact severely damaged the front portion of the bus. Local residents, police, and fire services rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations.
Rescuers shifted the injured passengers to Angul District Headquarters Hospital. One passenger succumbed to injuries during treatment. Fourteen critically injured victims were later moved to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced care.
The collision disrupted traffic on NH-55 for several hours. Authorities worked to clear the road and restore movement.
Police launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. Officers are examining whether driver fatigue, overspeeding, or sudden manoeuvres contributed to the accident.
