West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the incident and extended administrative and financial help to the victims. Around 24 of the bus passengers hail from the state – 12 from East Medinipur and one from North Dinajpur while 11 are residents of Kolkata and Howrah districts. The Bengal government has opened a control room in Nabanna for assistance and minister Sujit Bose has been directed to leave for Odisha to ensure assistance.
Taking to her handle on ‘X’, Mamata posted, “Sad to know about the death and injuries of several passengers in a tragic bus accident in Jajpur district of Odisha last night. West Bengal administration has been on rescue and assistance mode from the very beginning. The bus was bound for our State and some of the dead and many of the injured have been ours.”
“West Bengal has been sending officials, materials, ambulances etc to the site in Odisha for rescue assistance. Vehicles have been sent to bring back the rescued passengers. Beds have been reserved in Medinipur medical college. Compensation will be paid to the next of kin of the dead and the injured as per rules. State administration, Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur district officials are fully involved in relief assistance. Solidarity to my affected brothers and sisters of Purba Medinipur,” she wrote.
“…sending our Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose for coordination of assistance from our side,” Mamata posted soon after.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari too expressed grief over the incident and appealed to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to support the bereaved families. On his ‘X’ handle, he wrote, “I am deeply saddened to know about the Passenger Bus accident in Jajpur that happened last night. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives. It has come to my knowledge that the injured people have been shifted to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack for further treatment.”
“I pray that all the injured persons recover quickly. I request Hon’ble Odisha CM Shri @Naveen_Odisha Ji, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education Shri @dpradhanbjp Ji, Hon’ble @SecyChief of Odisha; Shri @PradeepJenaIAS, @dm_jajpur & @spjajpur to extend all the support to the victims of the tragic accident.Please help the family members of the victims who lost their lives, so that they don’t feel burdened with formalities at this time of grief,” Adhikari posted.