Jeypore: In a tragic incident, at least nine persons were killed when a pick-up vehicle they were travelling in overturned this evening in Odisha’s Koraput district.

Eyewitnesses said bodies were scattered at the accident site near Sindhi Gaon in Kotapad block. Due to the darkness it was difficult to ascertain exactly how many died and were injured in the mishap.

The occupants of the ill-fated pick-up vehicle hail from Kulta village under Nagarnar police limits in Chhattisgarh. They were returning from Kotpad after attending 10th day ritual of one of their relatives who died recently.

Around 30 persons were travelling the pick-up vehicle. The mishap occurred at around 9:15 PM, sources added.

As many as 15 persons were injured in the mishap and have been admitted to the Kotpad Community Health Centre.

Of them, four critically injured were shifted to Jagdalpur for treatment.

The death toll is likely to increase looking at the severity of the road mishap, said sources.