Bhubaneswar: At least 12 passengers were killed, and eight others injured when a OSRTC bus and a private bus collided head on near Khemundi college close to Digapaandi in Ganjam district on Sunday midnight, the official said.

The dead included six male, four female and two children.

All the injured have been admitted to MKCG Medical college and hospital at Berhampur.

Ganjam District Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida said a critically injured passenger has been shifted to SCB Medical College and hospital. All arrangements have been made here for treatment of patients," he said.

The accident occurred while the private bus carrying a marriage party was returning from Berhampur to Khandadeuli village when it collided head on with a OSRTC bus which was on its way from Gadari to Bhubaneswar.

Digapahandi Police and Fire Brigade personnel rescued the injured and rushed them to hospital.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs three lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the next kin of each of the deceased and expressed his profound grief over the deaths.

Patnaik directed officials to provide free treatment to all the injured and wished for their speedy recovery.

The Chief Minister directed Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh and Ganjam DPCC Chairperson Bikram Panda to rush to the spot and provide all assistance.

After the accident some relatives of the accident victims and local people blocked the road demanding adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.

The road blockade was removed after senior officers intervened in the matter.

At present efforts are on to remove the two buses from the accident site and clear the road for vehicle movement.

(With UNI Inputs)