Seven dead as bus swept away by flood waters in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, July 13 : Seven people were killed and many others missing when a bus fell into a rivulet after being swept away by flood waters in Orissa's Nayagarh district Monday evening, officials said.

The bus was swept away by the flood waters while travelling over a bridge without side pillars. It rolled into a nullah between Gania and Duspalla village, some 70 km from the district headquarter of Nayagarh, officials said.

"Seven bodies have been fished out so far. Twenty people have been rescued. We anticipate more casualties," said a sub divisional official from the accident site.

Local sources say the bus was carrying nearly 60 people although officials have not yet confirmed the exact number.

"Rescue operations are on. We fear the toll may rise," District Collector Paresh Chandra Nayak told IANS over phone.

Nayagarh is 87 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.