4 Dead, 25 Injured as Pilgrims’ Bus from UP Overturns in Balasore on Way to Puri

Balasore: Four pilgrims died and at least 25 others were injured when the bus on which they were travelling overturned at late night on Friday on National Highway 16 in Balasore district. All the deceased including a woman were from Uttar Pradesh.

This ill-fated bus with 57 pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh was travelling to Puri when it met with the accident. It had left UP on September 18 to enter Odisha after passing through Bihar and Jharkhand.

The bus overturned near Jaleswar by-pass. After overturning, the bus rolled 20 feet down the road.

Out of the injured, the condition of 17 passengers is said to be serious. They were admitted to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. The other injured are being treated at Jaleswar’s JK Bhattacharya Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Mishra, Santaram Yadav, Kamala Devi Yadav and Rajprasad Yadav.

Upon being informed, police with the help of fire brigade officials and locals rescued the pilgrims from the overturned bus.

Police suspect that the driver may have dozed off which led to the accident.