At least 30 artistes of Bharati Gana Natya were feared killed and 12 others critically injured after the bus they were travelling in from Rourkela to Bargarh fell into a 300-foot-deep gorge in Kailash valley in Deogarh district on Sunday evening.
Deogarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarah Sharma, who reached the scene, said: "Although the exact number of casualty is yet to be confirmed, it may touch 30."
It has been learnt that the bus was ferrying a group of 40-45 artistes, including five-eight women and two children, and bus staff.
Though officials of the district administration and police personnel started rescue operation, dense forest and dark nigh retrograding the process. "The dark night and dense forest is coming in the way of rescue operation," said Sharma.
The cause of accident is yet to be known, but officials suspect technical snag as a possible reason.
"All sorts of arrangements for treatment of the injured have been made, and I am in regular touch with the Deogarh Collector and SP. The Odisha Government will bear entire expenditure on treatment of the injured artistes. I am also rushing the spot," said Nagendra Pradhan, Member of Parliament from Sambalpur.
The artistes were on their way back home in Bargarh after performing opera near Rourkela.