Rayagada: In a freak mishap, a private bus named Barsha travelling to Polsara in Ganjam district from Kasagumuda in Nabarangpur district was gutted completely late last night near Tarini chhak at Siriguda in Rayagada.
More than 40 passengers were on board when the bus caught fire, but there was no casualty reported. Worth lakhs of belongings were reduced to ashes and important documents of some of the students were also burnt.
According to passengers, they informed the bus staff about the fire, but the bus driver did not pay attention to it. The bus was completely burnt down after the rear tyre burst. The bus also did not have a fire extinguisher.
The bus driver and the conductor fled from the scene.
On being informed, the fire tenders from Rayagada reached the spot and tried to douse the flame, but the bus was completely gutted in fire.
Ms Kalinga