Alleged negligence of the driver led to Monday's bus accident that claimed five lives and left 40 persons injured at Barbati in Jajpur district of Odisha.

The bus skidded off the road and fell into a gorge from a 15-foot-high bridge. A case has been filed against the driver for rash and negligent driving, additional commissioner, transport (road safety and enforcement), Odisha, Lal Mohan Sethi, told The Telegraph.

“We have learned the driver's negligence caused the accident as the condition of that particular stretch of road was good. We suspect the accident took place when the driver tried to overtake a vehicle from the left side,” Sethi said.

The ill-fated bus was going to Nandakumar in East Midnapore district from Puri. The accident occurred around 9pm after the vehicle had covered 140km.

Among the dead were Barnali Das, 40, Uttam Maiti, 48, Achintya Maiti, 48, and Moloy Ghosh, 42, who were all residents of East Midnapore.