BERHAMPUR: Twelve people were killed and many injured as their bus collided with another bus in Odisha’s Ganjam. The incident happened early Monday morning. A private bus returning after attending a wedding function in Berhampur collided with a government-owned bus returning from Gudari in Rayagada.

All the dead and the injured were passengers of the private bus. Soon after the incident, the fire brigade and the police reached the spot and engaged in rescue operations. The driver of one of the buses is undergoing treatment. The driver of the second bus is yet to be found. Six seriously injured have been admitted to MKCG Medical College. One has been admitted to SCG Medical College in Cuttack.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over the deaths of people in the bus accident and announced ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to next of kin of dead and free medical treatment for the injured. The police have announced a detailed investigation into the incident.