As per preliminary information, the mishap took place near Bhalukuma in Anandpur area of the district in the morning when students of an educational institution were returning from a picnic in the bus.

Sources said around 50 Plus II students of an educational institution in Soro area of Balasore district had been to Sambalpur for a picnic.

While returning, the driver of the bus lost control over the wheels near a turn and the vehicle dashed against the truck from rear. Several students were injured in the mishap.

All of the injured were immediately taken to the Anandpur sub-divisional hospital for treatment. The bus driver and some students were stated to have sustained critical injuries in the accident.

As per reports, the tourists from the neighbouring state had come in a car on a visit to Panchalingeswar temple in the district. After offering puja in the temple, they were going to Devkund in Mayurbhanj district.

When they reached Kalakad on Nilagiri-Udala state highway 19, their car had head-on collision with another car coming from opposite direction. All the five tourists were seriously injured in the accident.

The local people rushed them to sub-divisional hospital at Nilagiri. Later, two of them were shifted to Balasore district headquarters hospital as their condition deteriorated. On being informed, police went to the accident spot and started investigation.

It may be noted that this is second accident on the narrow state highway in the last two weeks. In the last mishap, a biker was killed in collision with another vehicle.

According to sources, locals rushed to the spot on hearing a loud bang around 5.30 am. They found three occupants trapped inside the badly-mangled car while one lying on the road with his head crushed. The injured were rescued and sent to hospital in an ambulance.

Eyewitnesses told local channels that the car was en route to Damana from Patia when the driver lost control over the vehicle, crossed the media and crashed into the bus, coming from the opposite direction.

Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

With this, accidents have claimed around 23 lives in the first 3 days of ‘zero fatality week being observed in the state from December 1-7. Twenty persons, including 8 alone in Keonjhar district, had died in separate mishaps on the first day of the initiative.

While the injured persons have been identified as the bike rider and the car driver, the condition of the former is said to be critical.

According to eyewitnesses, the bike rider was taking a U-turn near Utkal Hospital when a speeding car hit him from behind. The car dragged the biker for at least 100 meters.

Some passersby immediately rescued the profusely bleeding biker and rushed him to Capital Hospital. At the same time, the car driver, who sustained severe injuries, was admitted to a private hospital.

Meanwhile, the police have seized the vehicles involved in the accident and launched a probe.

“When I saw the injured person lying in a pool of blood, nobody was coming to his rescue. Rather they were clicking photos. After arranging an auto rickshaw, I sent him to the hospital. I don’t know, how many occupants were there in the car,” narrated Madhaba Digal, an eyewitness.

The deceased has been identified as Prabhas Jena, a teacher of Umerkote Swami Vivekanand Bidya Mandir.

According to sources, the accident took place when students of several schools along with teachers were on their way to attend the district-level sports event and the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a curve.

On being informed, police arrived at the spot and rushed the injured to Jharigaon Community Health Centre. A probe into the circumstances leading to the accident is underway.