Bhubaneswar, Sept. 21: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee today observed a 12-hour strike at Bhuban in Dhenkanal district, demanding Rs 20 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the six persons, who died yesterday when a passenger bus came in contact with a live wire at Bhuban town.

Twenty-five others also suffered injuries in the incident. While yesterday, three injured persons got shifted to SCB Medical and Hospital and College in Cuttack, another five were shifted there today.

The Congress also demanded Rs 5 lakh assistance for treatment to the injured and immediate replacement of all the live wires hanging at various points across the town. As they blocked the National Highway No. 53 connecting Talcher, the coal town of the state, hundreds of trucks and other vehicles remained stranded on the road for the day.

The shop owners and other business establishment downed their shutters. However, no untoward incidents were reported.

Dhenkanal police superintendent Basanta Kumar Panigrahi said: "The accident took place because of the driver's negligence. We have already arrested him. We will find out whether anyone else is responsible for the accident by forcing the driver to take a diversion."

In another development, the state energy department's engineer-in-chief S.P. Swain reached Bhuban to examine how the 11kv transmission line was passing through the town at such a low height.

Moreover, the state government has asked all the regional transport authorities to ensure that all school buses and passengers buses install speed governors in their vehicles by October 31.