Berhampur, Sept. 1: Seven persons, including three students, on a bus of an engineering college here had a close shave after the vehicle hit a 11-KV electric pole and was gutted this afternoon.

“The incident occurred near Hanuman temple on Andhapasara Road here. A tyre on the right side of the bus burst and the driver lost control over the vehicle. The bus then hit a roadside high-tension electric pole. It was gutted when a livewire snapped and fell on it,” said officer in charge of Gosaninuagaon police station Ram Kumar Murmu.

“Luckily, three students and four staff members, including the bus driver, jumped out of the vehicle, which saved their lives,” said the officer.