Miraculous escape for Odisha bus passengers as vehicle catches fire after tyre burst in Vizianagaram district

Thirty-seven passengers, including Mangu Khilla, Congress MLA from Chitrakonda (ST) constituency, travelling by a bus from Bhubaneswar to Malkangiri in Odisha had a miraculous escape when the vehicle caught fire following a tyre burst in the early hours of Saturday, at Tarapuram of Ramabhadrapuram mandal in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.

The bus, which had left Bhubaneswar at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, met with the accident at around 4.30 a.m. on Saturday when its rear tyre burst.

The bus driver, who managed to control the vehicle, made all the passengers disembark. As soon as the passengers got off the bus, flames engulfed and reduced the vehicle to ashes. Most of the passengers, however, lost their baggage in the accident.

Fire-fighting teams from Badangi rushed to the accident site and doused the flames.

Meanwhile, Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar and other senior officials spoke to their counterparts in Odisha and informed them that there was no need to worry as all the passengers were safe. Circle Inspector Srinivasa Rao and Sub-Inspector Prasad coordinated the rescue operation.

Mr. Mangu Khilla spoke to the Malkangiri district officials and made arrangements for the onward journey of the passengers by another bus.

Speaking to the media here, he said the passengers maintained discipline while getting off the ill-fated bus. He also lauded the driver and bus crew for their support in ensuring safety of the passengers.