Bhubaneswar: Three young women, on their way to Puri to take part in the Ratha Jatra, were killed in a road mishap near the Odisha capital today.

The mishap took place on the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway near Pipli overbridge in the afternoon.

The deceased, all aged around 20, were identified as Rimjhim Priyadarshini Sahoo of Bariksahi under Lingaraj police limits in the capital city here and Elina Das and Kajal Das of Rajkanika area in Kendrapara district.

The three women were travelling on separate two-wheelers to reach Puri and have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath and his siblings on their respective chariots at Saradhabali near Srigundicha temple.

They fell down on the NH after their two-wheelers collided near Pipli overbridge. The three women were run over by an ‘Ama Bus’ passing through the route. They died on the spot, reports said.

On being informed, Pipli police reached the spot and seized the bodies before launching a probe into the mishap.  

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has expressed grief over the death of the three women and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased.