In a tragic incident near the Orsa Bangladara ghati on the Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border, a bus accident resulted in the loss of five lives and left 80 others injured. The bus, carrying 87 passengers, fell into a gorge, causing shockwaves in the local community.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the accident, offering condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue and relief operations were promptly initiated, with 27 injured individuals receiving treatment at Carmel Hospital and 60 at the Community Health Centre.
Authorities disclosed that the deceased, comprising four men and one woman from Balrampur district, were en route to a pre-marriage function in Lodh village. Eyewitnesses recounted how the bus driver lost control on a sharp turn, leading to a collision with a guard rail and a tree before plunging into the gorge.
Driver Vikas Pathak, the sole survivor among the bus occupants, shared his futile attempts to stop the vehicle on the steep slope. Rescue efforts, involving local residents and police, were swiftly mobilized to free trapped passengers and transport the injured to nearby medical facilities.
At least 30 of the injured are in critical condition and have been transferred to Ranchi for specialized medical treatment. The incident has underscored the risks associated with overloading and reckless driving on hilly terrain, prompting investigations into the accident’s causes.
District officials have pledged to cover all medical expenses for the victims and provide support to the families of the deceased. This tragedy emphasizes the pressing need for stringent enforcement of road safety regulations, especially in rural and border regions where such accidents are prevalent.
