Balasore: One man was killed and at least 14 passengers were critically injured when a tourist bus crashed into a divider on a bridge at Bahanaga in Balasore district, early on Friday.According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred when the bus, carrying over 39 passengers from Andhra Pradesh to West Bengal, rammed into the divider on the bridge on NH-16. It is suspected that the driver had dozed off while driving.The impact was such that the driver, N Shrinivas Rao (55), was flung through the broken windscreen of the bus. He landed on the bridge, resulting in his death.The critically injured passengers were rescued and shifted to Khantapada community health centre for treatment. The remaining passengers were taken to Bahanaga High School, where they were provided with temporary shelter. A crane was deployed to remove the damaged bus from the bridge.Police have sent the driver’s body for post-mortem examination and have launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities are also making arrangements to send the stranded passengers to their destination.
