What began as a leisurely company picnic for employees from Berhampur-based organisations turned deadly on Sunday when a bus returning from Baraha Pathar lost control and overturned in the treacherous Andanda Ghati, under Jarada police station in Patrapur block of Ganjam district. The accident claimed the life of one person and left more than 20 others injured.
Local authorities reported that two buses were transporting staff back from the picnic site when one vehicle veered off balance near a school on the winding Andanda Ghati road, a short distance from Baraha Pathar. The bus flipped over, trapping passengers inside amid the steep, rugged terrain.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the vehicle skidded on the narrow, unguarded path, possibly due to driver error, mechanical issues, or slippery conditions from recent weather.
The deceased has been identified as Ratna Bisoi, a 45-year-old resident of Sriram Nagar in Berhampur. Many sustained fractures, bruises, and head injuries.
Quick response from nearby residents proved crucial, as they rushed to the site to extricate survivors from the wreckage. The injured were transported to Patrapur Community Health Centre via 108 ambulances and local autos. Doctors at the facility declared Ratna Bisoi dead on arrival. Five of the more seriously injured were subsequently transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for advanced treatment.
Jarada police arrived promptly at the accident scene and the hospital, registering a case to investigate the incident. They have seized the body of the deceased for postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Initial probes suggest the road’s sharp curves and lack of barriers may have contributed, a recurring issue in the region’s ghats.
