Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur
Raipur, Jan 18: At least five people were killed and around 80 others injured on Sunday after an overloaded passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge near Orsa Bangladara ghat on the Chhattisgarh–Jharkhand border. The accident occurred in the jurisdiction of Mahuadanr police station, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.
Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the tragedy and said immediate rescue and relief measures were initiated after authorities were alerted.
In a post on X, he said administrative teams were deployed at the site to coordinate emergency response and medical care. According to him, 87 passengers were injured in the accident, with 27 admitted to Carmel Hospital and 60 undergoing treatment at a community health centre. He directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for those critically injured and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Police officials said the victims who lost their lives included four men and one woman, all residents of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh. Their identities are yet to be formally established.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus was carrying 87 passengers, far exceeding its capacity. Most of those on board were travelling to Lodh village to attend a pre-marriage ceremony.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the accident occurred when the driver lost control while navigating a sharp bend on the steep hillside road. The bus reportedly hit a roadside guard rail, crashed into a tree and then fell nearly 20 feet into the gorge, leaving several passengers trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle.
The driver, identified as Vikas Pathak, survived the crash and told police that he tried to stop the bus by applying the handbrake and switching off the engine. However, the steep slope and heavy load made it impossible to regain control.
Rescue operations began immediately, with local residents, police and emergency responders working together to pull injured passengers from the wreckage. Victims were rushed to Mahuadanr Community Hospital and Carmel Hospital for treatment. Officials said at least 30 injured passengers are in critical condition and have been referred to Ranchi for specialised medical care.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether overloading, driver negligence or mechanical failure caused the accident. District officials said the government would bear the medical expenses of the injured and provide assistance to the families of those who lost their lives.
The incident has once again underscored the risks posed by overcrowded vehicles and unsafe driving on hilly roads, raising concerns over lax enforcement of road safety norms in remote and border regions.