A Keonjhar bus accident injured more than 20 passengers early Tuesday after a front tyre burst caused a bus to veer off the road and hit a roadside tree near Deuladiha Chowk in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. One passenger was reported to be in critical condition.
The bus was travelling from Kaliahata in Telkoi block to Keonjhar with around 30 passengers when the tyre burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which left the road and collided with the tree near Deuladiha Chowk under Telkoi police station limits.
The injured passengers were taken to the Telkoi community health centre for treatment. Those who suffered minor injuries were discharged after receiving first aid, while one passenger remained in critical condition, according to the report.
Telkoi police personnel rescued the injured and seized the bus following the crash. The police action places the vehicle under scrutiny while the circumstances surrounding the tyre failure and the condition of the bus are examined.
Passengers who were not seriously injured were provided alternative transport to continue their journeys. The incident disrupted the route between Kaliahata and Keonjhar, although the remaining passengers were able to proceed after arrangements were made.
Dilip Lakra, inspector-in-charge of Telkoi police station, said the accident occurred early in the morning because of a tyre burst. “However, nobody has lodged a formal complaint so far. Further action will be taken if a report is filed,” he said.
The absence of a formal complaint means that further police action will depend on whether an injured passenger or another affected party files a report. The seized bus remains central to any subsequent investigation into the crash, including the vehicle’s mechanical condition and the sequence of events that led to the collision.
