Bus Overturns on NH‑149 in Anugul – More Than 25 People Injured

On the morning of 21 July 2026, a state‑run OSRTC passenger bus – packed with more than fifty travelers on the Puri‑to‑Sundargarh route – suddenly toppled over on National Highway 149. The mishap occurred near Burukuna Square, inside the jurisdiction of the Samal police station in Anugul (sometimes spelled Anugola or Angul) district.

The exact cause is still being probed, but witnesses said the vehicle appeared to sway before it tipped, throwing passengers onto the hard pavement. Within minutes, fire‑service personnel, along with a fleet of 108‑ambulances, were on the scene, pulling people out of the wreckage and attending to immediate wounds.

Official tallies put the number of injured at more than 25, with six individuals classified as critical. The first stop for most victims was the Khamar Community Health Centre, a modest facility that quickly transferred the gravely ill to the Anugul District Headquarters Hospital. From there, a handful of the most serious cases were air‑lifted or driven further afield to tertiary care hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Police officers secured the roadway, diverted traffic, and began gathering statements from the driver, passengers, and nearby motorists. While no fatalities have been reported so far, local authorities have warned that the situation remains fluid as doctors continue to assess those with internal injuries.

Residents of the surrounding villages expressed shock, noting that the stretch of NH‑149 is a busy corridor linking several major towns. "We never imagined such a thing could happen on this road," said one by‑stander, who helped pull an elderly woman to safety.

The incident has revived calls for stricter safety checks on inter‑state passenger buses, especially those traversing the hilly terrain of Odisha’s interior. The OSRTC has pledged full cooperation with the investigation and assured the public that any lapses will be addressed promptly.