More than 20 passengers were injured, including one who was reported to be in critical condition, after a bus crashed into a roadside tree near Deuladiha Chowk in Odisha’s Keonjhar district early Tuesday following a front tyre burst, police said.
The bus was travelling from Kaliahata in Telkoi block towards Keonjhar with around 30 passengers when the tyre burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and struck the tree near Deuladiha Chowk, under the jurisdiction of Telkoi police station.
The injured passengers were taken to the Telkoi community health centre for treatment. Those with minor injuries received first aid and were discharged, while one passenger was reported to be in critical condition. The report did not identify the critically injured passenger or provide details of the nature of the injuries.
Telkoi police personnel assisted in rescuing passengers from the bus and seized the vehicle after the crash. Alternative transport was arranged for passengers who were not hospitalised so they could continue their journeys.
The crash brings attention to the risks faced by passengers on bus routes connecting smaller towns and blocks in the district, where a mechanical failure can quickly become a serious road-safety incident. The available police account identifies the tyre burst as the immediate cause of the crash, but does not provide information on the bus’s maintenance history, tyre condition, fitness certification or operating agency.
Telkoi police station inspector-in-charge Dilip Lakra said the accident occurred early in the morning due to a tyre burst. He also said that no formal complaint had been lodged at the time of the report.
“Further action will be taken if a report is filed,” Lakra said.
The seizure of the bus allows police to retain the vehicle while any further action is considered. The report did not state whether a mechanical inspection had been completed, whether the driver had been questioned or whether any case had been registered. It also did not specify the bus registration number or the identity of its operator.
For passengers, the immediate response centred on medical treatment, rescue and arranging onward transport. Further official action will depend on whether a formal complaint is filed and on any subsequent police or vehicle inspection findings.
