Bhubaneswar: A Prayagraj-bound bus from Odisha reportedly met with an accident on Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border which left at least 35 Odia pilgrims injured last night. Over 70 people reportedly from different villages under Bhograi block in Balasore district were traveling to Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela. However, their ill-fated bus hit a sand-laden dumper truck from behind at around 12.50 AM. While 35 of the occupants were injured, one of them is stated to be critical following the mishap. However, Sriram, the driver of the ill-fated bus fled the scene, leaving the vehicle and the passengers stranded on the spot. Though the exact cause of the mishap is yet to be known, it is said that Sriram fell asleep while driving which led to the accident of the bus. Some locals rescued the injured passengers and admitted them to the hospital for treatment. The critically injured person is shifted to the ICU department of the hospital. Meanwhile, police is said to have started an investigation into the matter and have launched a search operation to trace the driver, who absconded soon after the mishap. Earlier on February 11, seven devotees were killed in a tragic road accident after their vehicle was hit by a truck in Madhya Pradesh while they were returning to Andhra Pradesh after taking a holy dip in the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav along with others had expressed deep grief over the accident.
