At least 12 people dead after bus carrying over 30 passengers falls from bridge in Odisha

CUTTACK: At least twelve people died and several others injured after a bus carrying over 30 passengers fell from the Mahanadi bridge near Jagatpur in Odisha's Cuttack on Tuesday evening. 

News agency ANI confirmed that at least twelve people have died in the bus mishap till the filing of this report.

Several rescue teams are already present at the accident spot and carrying out rescue work.

#SpotVisuals: A bus carrying around 30 passengers fell from the Mahanadi bridge near Jagatpur in Cuttack today. Rescue teams present at the spot. More details awaited. #Odisha pic.twitter.com/Mkqr00R7DW

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2018

Officials of the district administration and local police are also present at the mishap site to take stock of the situation.

The accident took place after the passenger bus collided with a buffalo following which the driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell from the Mahanadi bridge.

The body of the buffalo was also recovered from the spot.   

The bus turned turtle after falling from the bridge leading to the death of at least twelve people and injuring many others.

The victims have not been identified as yet.

Those injured in the mishap have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep concerns over falling off of the passenger bus from the Mahanadi bridge. 

CM @Naveen_Odisha expressed deep concern over falling off of a passenger bus from Mahanadi bridge. He directed minister @chandra_sarathi to rush to the spot & ensure treatment for injured, @osdma @CuttackDM & Fire Services to expedite rescue operation — CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) November 20, 2018

Patnaik also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next of the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured.

The Chief Minister also directed Minister Sarathi Chandra to immediately rush to the accident spot and ensure treatment for those injured in the incident.

The state's disaster management agency, Cuttack District Magistrate and the Fire Services Department were directed to expedite the rescue operation.