Bhubaneswar, Nov 27 (PTI) At least three persons were killed and nine others were injured after a truck rammed into a bus on NH 16 in Khurda district on Saturday.

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The accident took place at Belapada Chhak when the bus carrying 19 picnickers was on its way back from Maa Tarini temple at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district, police said.

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Two persons died on the spot and later an injured succumbed at the hospital.

The injured persons were rushed to Balugaon hospital.

The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has condoled the death of three students in the accident and announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of each victim.

The deceased hailed from Rangeilunda under Gopalpur tehsil of Ganjam district.

Wishing early recovery of the injured, Patnaik directed the district officials to extend all possible help for their treatment.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)