2 dead, 38 injured as bus falls off bridge on national highway in Odisha

DHENKANAL: Two women were killed and 38 sustained injuries after a tourist bus fell off a bridge on National Highway 55 near Panchabati, under Dhenkanal Sadar police station limits, on Monday morning. Five of the injured are said to be critical.
The deceased have been identified as Renubala Jena (40) and Bijay laxmi Chandra Swain (45) of Ichhapur village in Kendrapada district. The injured were admitted to Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital. Later, 22 of the injured, including six women and three children, were shifted to SCB Medical College, Cuttack.
Police said a bus carrying more than 40 passengers from Kendrapada's Ichhapur area was returning after visiting Balangir and Sambalpur. The accident took place when the driver lost control while the bus was on the bridge over Rengali Right canal. The vehicle first dashed into the railing of the bridge and then dived into the canal.