The Talchua-bound bus from Cuttack was ferrying about 45 passengers when its driver, in an attempt to save a cyclist at a curve, fell into a ditch near Paramanandapur along the Cuttack-Chandbali state highway under Rajnagar police station, Inspector Biranchi Bag said.
The deceased was identified as Jhunu Majhi (55) while those injured including children were being treated at the public health centre at Rajnagar, he said, adding that those seriously hurt were shifted to the district headquarters hospital here.