Negligence of the OSRTC bus driver led to the road accident in Digapahandi of Ganjam district, said Brahmapur SP Saravana Vivek M on Tuesday.
“A preliminary probe revealed that the driver’s negligence and reckless driving caused the accident,” Vivek said.
However, alcohol consumption test of the OSRTC bus driver and the private bus driver came negative, he added.
The OSRTC driver Manas Pradhan was arrested by the Digapahandi police and forwarded to court on Tuesday.
Pradhan had surrendered at the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Later, a team of the Digapahandi police went to the capital city and brought him to Ganjam for questioning.
At least 12 persons of a marriage party were killed and several others sustained critical injuries as the private bus carrying them and the OSRTC bus collided head on near Digapahandi on the Brahmapur-Taptapani road late on Sunday night.
The private bus did not have a road permit and insurance, said Ganjam RTO Manas Sahu. The bus did not have permit for plying during night. The vehicle also had no insurance. The bus owner is responsible for this incident. Action will be taken against him,” the RTO said.
Besides, a report said the axle of the 25-year-old bus was in a damaged condition, due to which it broke after the collision.