BERHAMPUR: As many as 12 members of a marriage party were killed when the private bus they were travelling in collided head-on with an OSRTC bus near Digapahandi on Berhampur-Taptapani road in Odisha, late on Sunday night.

"Seven others sustained injuries in the accident," said Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M.The injured were shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital and Digapahandi hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

Two of the injured have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, sources said.According to sources, the deceased include seven members of a family and their relatives.The accident took place when they were returning to Khandadeuli near Digapahandi after attending the party at Berhampur.Police rushed to the spot immediately and rescued the injured and shifted them to the medical centre, said SP.The special relief commissioner said that Rs 30,000 each has been sanctioned to the injured for treatment under the supervision of Ganjam district administration.PM, CM expresses griefWhile expressing grief over the tragic incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.Chief minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed deep grief over the deaths of people in the bus accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to next of kin of deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.