Two persons, including a woman passenger and an auto-rickshaw driver, were killed on the spot after an Ama Bus rammed into an auto-rickshaw at Rupali Square in Bhubaneswar on Saturday noon.
According to sources, the auto-rickshaw was halted at the busy traffic junction behind a school bus when the Ama Bus allegedly hit it from behind at high speed. The impact crushed the auto-rickshaw completely and pushed it forward into the rear of the school bus, causing damage to both vehicles. The auto driver and the woman passenger died instantly at the scene.
Eyewitnesses blamed the Ama Bus driver for reckless driving, alleging that the bus failed to stop at the traffic signal. Some witnesses claimed that both the driver and conductor fled immediately after the accident, triggering anger among locals who gathered at the spot and protested against frequent accidents involving Ama Buses.
Police rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area, recovered the bodies, and diverted traffic to ease congestion at the junction. A manhunt has been launched to trace the absconding bus driver and conductor.
The incident has added to growing concerns over a series of accidents involving Ama Buses in the city in recent months. Earlier incidents had also triggered public protests and demands for stricter monitoring of public transport operations.
As of the time of reporting, no official response had been issued by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates the Ama Bus service, regarding the fatal accident at Rupali Square.
