People of all villages, including Remta, Kanbar and Barangpalli, under Barapali block in Bargarh district were speechless and shocked as the bodies of 22 co-villagers, who were young and adolescents, were consigned to flames on their respective village graveyards on Monday afternoon.
Of the 27 opera artists killed in the heartrending road mishap at Gailo Ghat in Bargarh district late on Sunday evening, one belonged to Balangir and four to coastal districts of Jagatsinghpur and Puri.
A pal of groom descended in the entire block following the news of Remta village’s Bharatee Gananatya bus falling into a 300-foot gorge reached the area. The bus was on its way from laimura village under Tileibani Block of Deogarh Dist to Sohela carrying 38 persons, including owner, manager and artistes. While 27 died on the spot, 11 sustained severe injuries.
The artists had played Sitaram pain Ayodhya Kande (Ayodhya weeps for Sitaram) the last night in a village in Deogarh district from where they were returning. Death of owner, manager, hero, heroin and villain made the whole Barapali block area cry.
The deceased included seven of Remta, two each of Kanbar, Barangpali, Kaisir, Barpali and Satlama villages and one from Babadi village under Barapali block, two from Bargarh town and one from Padhanpali village of Bheden block. While one was identified as resident of Balangir distirct, the rest four belonged to Jagatsinghpur and Pipli in Puri district.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressing his deep grief over the mishap announced an ex-gratia amount of `2 lakh to the family of each deceased and free treatment for the injured who are undergoing treatment at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VISMAR).
Bijepur MlA Subal Sahu, Bargarh MlA Debesh Acharya and Barpali NAC Chairman Pradumna Tripathy visited cremation grounds. later Sahoo demanded Rs 10 lakh for the family of each deceased.
What has shocked the entire State is that the bus was not fit to run on the road and it was being driven by a novice driver. The bus (OR O5 AB 9535) had no fitness certificate since 2013.
Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi sought a report from Deogarh Regional Transport Officer (RTO) on the details of the bus.
“We have sought a report from the Deogarh RTO asking him to probe under what circumstance the accident has taken place. Besides, we have asked him to inquire whether the vehicle had valid documents like fitness and driving license of the driver. The Cuttack RTO revealed that the vehicle was registered with them and it had not complied with the notice served on him regarding the expiry of fitness. After receipt of the detailed report, strict action would be initiated against the errant,” Majhi said.
The Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), Cuttack said a show-cause notice will be served on the owner of the vehicle as he has not replied to the demand notice issued to him last year.
“The fitness of the vehicle had expired on April 24, 2013 after which a demand notice was served on the owner of the vehicle. A show cause notice was served to the owner of the vehicle today,” MVI Rashmiranjan Dalbehera told reporters.
As per the department’s website, the owner of the vehicle is Tapan Kumar Mohanty of Nemeisapur under Ayatpur Sadar in Cuttack district.