Odisha: 12 dead, 50 injured as bus falls into Mahanadi riverbed

New Delhi: At least 12 people were killed and 50 were injured when a bus fell into the river Mahanadi from a bridge near Jagatpur, Odisha. The horrific incident happened on the outskirts of Cuttack on Tuesday evening.

It was a private bus that was plying from Cuttack to Talcher. Police say, it crashed into the railing of the bridge and plunged down into the riverbed. Police have confirmed that it plunged 30 feet down.

Eye witnesses suggest the bus lost control when it hit a buffalo. The buffalo was immediately killed and its body was later recovered.  

Meanwhile, rescue operations started in full swing. 

Fire brigade personnel, as well as the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), was pressed into action. Rescue boats were also employed in the river. The injured were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik expressed grief and announced compensation ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh each to next of the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured. 
 

CM @Naveen_Odisha expressed deep grief over the death of some passengers in the Mahanadi bus tragedy. He announced ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh to next of kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured. He has conveyed deep sympathy for bereaved families

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) November 20, 2018

Meanwhile condolences started pouring in from all across the political spectrum.

Deeply pained to hear about the accident on Mahanadi bridge. My condolences to the bereaved family. https://t.co/nYVIS94344

— Kalikesh Singh Deo (@DeoKalikesh) November 20, 2018

News of the bus accident on Mahanadi bridge and loss of several lives is unfortunate & saddening. My condolence to the families of the victims in the time of grief.

— कलराज मिश्र (Kalraj Mishra) (@KalrajMishra) November 20, 2018