Berhampur: Eleven people among 12 died in the tragic bus mishap in Odisha's Ganjam district in wee hours on Monday were the relatives of former Rajya Sabha member Renubala Pradhan, police confirmed today.

Total 12 people including two children and four women were killed and seven others were injured in a head-on collision between two buses near Digapahandi in Ganjam district.

The deceased persons were identified as Shivani Pradhan (25), Rupali Pradhan (23), Sugyani Kumari Pradhan (31), Sangita Dakua (32), Litu Nayak (40), Tripati Pradhan (48), Ramesh Pradhan (62), Sitaram Pradhan (60), Sanjay Medin Ray (50), Subhendu Pradhan (32), Dibanshu Pradhan (3) and Hardhik (1).

The incident occurred at around 1 am near Digapahandi on Berhampur-Taptapani road when a private bus returning from Berhampur collided with a state-run Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus killing 12 on the spot.

All the injured persons were rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here for treatment following the incident. Two of them have been sent to the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack for further treatment.

Sources said that all occupants of the private bus were returning to Khandadeuli near Digapahandi after attending a marriage party in Berhampur. The tragedy struck just a few kilometers before their destination.

Promptly responding to the incident, police rescued all the injured victims and shifted them to hospitals for treatment.

The Special Relief Commissioner sanctioned Rs 30,000 each for the injured individuals for their treatment under supervision of Ganjam district administration.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the accident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased and free medical treatment to those injured.

Offering condolence to bereaved families, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 each for injured persons.