Bhubaneswar, Sept 28: A tragic late-night bus accident on National Highway-16 in Balasore district has claimed the lives of four tourists, including a woman from Uttar Pradesh. The bus, carrying 57 tourists, overturned near the Jaleswar by-pass, tumbling 20 feet down the roadside.

The accident left 23 individuals injured, with the condition of 17 passengers reported as critical. Seventeen critically injured tourists were rushed to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital, while others were admitted to JK Bhattacharya Hospital in Jaleswar, according to sources.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Mishra, Santaram Yadav, Kamala Devi Yadav, and Rajprasad Yadav. The group was en route to Puri to visit the Lord Jagannath temple when the accident occurred. Preliminary reports suggest the bus had departed from Uttar Pradesh on September 18, visiting Bihar and Jharkhand before heading to Puri.

Upon receiving the news, police, aided by fire brigade personnel and local residents, worked quickly to rescue the victims from the wreckage. Jaleswar SDPO Dilip Sahoo has arrived at the scene to begin an investigation into the incident.

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