TRAGIC: 9 dead, 27 injured as bus comes in contact with 11kv wire in Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: At least nine persons were killed and more than 25 injured when a bus came in contact with a live 11 KV wire at Mendrajpur under Golanthara police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district today.

The deceased were identified as B. Taraneya, K. Sanju, B. Kankamma, Santoshi Sahu, B. Rameya, B. Achulu, CH Kamaraju and B. Tarini.

According to reports, the victims were heading from Jangalpadu towards Chikarada village in the ill-fated vehicle for attending an engagement ceremony. The persons inside the bus were electrocuted after the vehicle  came in contact with the high voltage electric wire at around 1 pm.

On being informed, police and Fire Services personnel reached the spot and rescued the people. The injured persons were admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here for treatment while four of them were later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as their condition deteriorated.

“A probe will be carried out to ascertain the circumstances which led to the mishap. Treatment of the victims is our current priority,” said Padmanabha Behera, Transport Minister.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his grief over the deaths and wishes speedy recovery of the injured.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expresses grief over the deaths in Golanthara bus mishap, wishes speedy recovery of the injured. Also, he demanded detailed inquiry into the incident#SambadEnglish #Sambad #Odisha pic.twitter.com/NTkBZ7KOGw

— Sambad English (@Sambad_English) February 9, 2020

In a similar incident, a bus carrying around 70 tourists came in contact with an 11 KV wire near Baliapal in Jaleswar area of Balasore district while one of them sustained injuries. The victim has been admitted to Baliapal hospital.

The bus driver managed to move the vehicle despite receiving electric shock, thereby averting a major mishap, reports said.