Cuttack, Feb. 16: At least five persons, including a woman, died and 40 were injured in a road mishap near Tangi on the city outskirts in the early hours of the morning today.

Police said the accident had occurred at 2.45am on the national highway when a bus carrying around 50 persons from Balasore collided with a truck.

Three persons, including the driver, died on the spot while two others died at SCB Medical College and Hospital here. The deceased have been identified as Budhiram Mallick, 34, Karunakar Das, 63, Akhaya Samal, 45, Shaktidhar Mishra, 33, and Snehalata Patra, 37. Hospital officials said the condition of around seven persons was critical.

“A full-fledged medical team consisting of 10 doctors, 30 paramedical staff and 20 attendants are engaged in the treatment of the injured, who were admitted to the hospital at around 5am today,” said emergency officer B.N. Moharana.

Moharana said around 15 women and six children were among the injured and all kinds of medical assistance were being provided to them.

None of the injured could tell how the mishap occurred as all of them were asleep at the time of the accident.

“We do not know how the accident took place as we were sleeping when the incident occurred,” said Gautam Patra, 42, Snehalata’s husband. Their 11-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son have also been injured in the accident.

Another injured, Ghanashyam Mallick, said: “I was sitting beside my wife when the incident occurred. We do not know whether the bus collided with a truck or hit it from behind as most of us were sleeping.”

Ghanshayam’s wife Shantilata has sustained severe injuries in her head and chest and is undergoing treatment at the trauma ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital.

“As the incident occurred during late night, there was no eyewitness and we suspect that the bus had collided with a truck, which is absconding following the incident,” said Tangi inspector-in-charge Sunil Mohanty.

Sources said rash driving or illegal parking of heavy vehicles on the national highway could be the reason for the accident.

All the persons from Kuleigaon village were on their way to Taratarini in Berhampur on a three-day religious trip.

“We had hired the minibus for a trip to Taratarini, Puri, Konark and Chilika for three days and collected Rs 800 per person for the purpose,” said Mallick.