1 dead, 16 others injured in separate incidents of road mishap in Odisha districts; 5 critical

Aska/Phulbani: A man was killed on the spot and 16 more persons including women sustained grievous injuries in two incidents of road mishap in Odisha’s Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, today.

The first incident was reported from near Bhetanai under Kotinada police limits in Ganjam district. A youth identified as Laxmidhar Patra died and another person was injured as the motorcycle on which they were travelling had a head-on collision with a pick-up van, which was going to Buguda from Aska.

Laxmidhar was riding the motorcycle and was on his way from Nayagarh town to Berhampur city for some personal work when he met with an accident leading to his untimely death. The injured has been identified as Jaheer Hazra, and both Laxmidhar and Jaheer were from Nayagarh district.

The injured was rescued by some locals and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition.

Kotinada police have seized the two vehicles, the body of Laxmidhar, and launched a detailed probe.

In the second incident, around fifteen persons were injured as a tractor in which they were travelling overturned at a place under Belaghar police limits in Kandhamal district, of which nearly five persons became critical. About 25 persons were returning home when the accident occurred.

According to a source, the tractor driver lost control of the vehicle when he was negotiating a turning on Belaghar-Jhiripani road. The tractor turned turtle and skidded off the road near a bridge. The injured are from Sikaki village of Jhiripani panchayat and were on their way after witnessing a theatre.

The injured were rescued and were admitted to community health centre (CHC) in Tumudibandha.