The accident occurred when the driver failed to negotiate a curve on Jamboo-Marshaghai canal road and the bus turned turtle before skidding off into a 20ft deep roadside ditch, police said.
Twenty of the injured persons have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack in a critical condition while rest are undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital here, they said.
Police said the bus was carrying passengers well beyond its capacity.