Ganjam bus collision: OSRTC bus driver arrested
The OSRTC bus driver was apprehended on Tuesday by police in Bhubaneswar after fleeing the previous day's horrific crash in Odisha's Digapahandi, which killed 12 people.
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Bhubaneswar: The OSRTC bus driver was apprehended on Tuesday by police in Bhubaneswar after fleeing the previous day's horrific crash in Odisha's Digapahandi, which killed 12 people.
Manas Pradhan has been identified as the driver.
According to sources, Pradhan surrendered at the Bharatpur police station on Monday after fleeing the scene of the accident. Later, a Digapahandi police team apprehended him. He was also taken to the scene of the accident, where an investigation is underway.
Twelve people were killed and seven others were seriously injured when a minibus collided with a state-run passenger bus near Khemundi college in the district's Digapahandi block around 1 a.m.
The passengers in the private minibus were on their way back from a wedding in Berhampur. According to sources, the injured were admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital and Digapahandi hospital, with two of them being transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Minor injuries were sustained by those aboard the OSRTC bus.
Manas Sahu, the Ganjam regional transport officer (RTO), later stated that the private bus lacked the necessary permit and insurance to operate at night, despite having a fitness certificate. According to the report, the axle of the 25-year-old bus was also damaged.
The driver of the minibus, who fortunately survived, stated that the OSRTC bus collided with it at a high speed.
In response to the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced ex-gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively, to the deceased's next of kin.
