16 killed, 30 unjured in bus accident in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Sep 9 (PTI) Sixteen people were killed andmore than 30 others critically injured when a bus carryingthem fell off a bridge in Odisha’s Angul district today. The mishap took place near Deulijhari when the bus fromBoudh to Athamallik fell from a bridge at Puruna Manitri,DGP K B Singh said. While 16 persons, including four women, were killed, 30others sustained serious injuries in the accident, Singh said. The injured were admitted to a hospital at Athamallikwhere the condition of many was stated to be critical, saidAngul District Collector Anil Kumar Samal who rushed to thespot to supervise rescue operations. Expressing shock over the mishap, Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik directed the district administration and policeofficials to take immediate steps for medical treatment of theinjured persons. The chief minister directed that the injured be providedmedical treatment free of cost, officials said. Several students of Athamallik college were alsotravelling in the bus, they said. It was not immediately clear as to how the bus fell offthe bridge, but the driver appeared to have lost control overthe vehicle, they said. PTI AAM SKN PRDV